Agenda and draft minutes

There were no declarations of interest made at this meeting.

There were no members of the public and press present at the meeting.

There were no communications to report.

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 3 and 4 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Council)/consultations or negotiations).

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 3 and 4 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Council)/information relating to any consultations or negotiations).

Presentation by Louise Barnett, Chief Executive

The Chairman welcomed Louise Barnett, Chief Executive, Rotherham Foundation Trust, and Tracey McErlain-Burns, Chief Nurse, to the meeting.

Louise stated that the report was to be considered by the Trust Board on Friday and was the reason why it was in the confidential section of the meeting.  All feedback from the Select Commission would be shared with the Board.

The strategic plan was to be submitted by 30^th June and would be reviewed by Monitor during July-September with feedback in October, 2014.

The plan covered:-

-          Declaration of sustainability – financial, operational and clinical

-          Market analysis and context

-          Risk to sustainability and strategic options

-          Strategic plans – strategic challenge, clinical speciality reviews and service line reporting

-          Critical supporting strategies – quality strategy, workforce strategy

-          Summary

The following additional information, incorporating questions by Select Commission Members, was given:-

Financial Viability

·           There was a Transformation Fund of £2M for this year and this was being looked at for the length of the plan.  Work was underway on training requirements to ensure there was investment to make the necessary changes. 

·           A Workforce Plan was under development which would be shared with NHS England as there was funding available to support certain schemes

Capacity Analysis - Estate

·           Recognition that there were some ageing buildings within the Trust’s stock

·           Stocktake taking place to be clear exactly what was used for what reason and how often

Capacity Analysis - Workforce

·           There had been an intensive recruitment campaign for nurses - offers of employment had been made to 83 nurses

·           Not all of the new recruits would be placed in the Hospital

·           Looking to build a District Nurse Team Leader role in the same manner as Ward Sister.  They would then have the authority to manage their team in the community

·           The financial costings had assumed fully staffed to the desirable level

·           The recent national Institute for Care and Excellence had launched consultation on proposed staffing ratio of 1 Registered Nurse to a maximum of 8 patients; Rotherham’s current staffing establishment already met that ratio.  If the recruitment was successful, the ratio would be better

·           Over recruitment would give the ability to flex the workforce where acute patient situations arose

·           Staff were actively involved in focus group sessions

·           The Workforce Plan for next year would look at the allied health care workforce when patient pathways had been redesigned

·           Predominantly female workforce

·           The age profile depended upon their occupation but the Trust was finding more staff were continuing to work for longer

·           Intention was to ensure that there was strong support arrangements for junior nurses/newly qualified

·           Hope to reduce the turnover rate of staff

·           Staff survey results demonstrated poor levels of staff satisfaction.  The Trust had just signed up to “Listening into Action” which was about empowering colleagues and enable/support them to ensure they could deliver high quality care in their areas.  A short survey would shortly go to all staff, with feedback provided to staff within 2 weeks and would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

-       Thursday, 10^th July, 2014 at 9.30 a.m.

Resolved:- That, due to the planned industrial action, the next meeting of the Health Select Commission be held on Friday, 11^th July, 2014, commencing at 1.30 p.m.