How well do we perceive other people's stress levels in the workplace

A new study finds that people often project their own experiences with stress onto their colleagues and employees, causing miscommunication and, often, missed opportunities. Click here to view article

Top digital communications tips for STPs

In order to engage stakeholders, staff and the public with the work of your sustainability transformation partnership (STP) organisations need to develop a strong communications strategy.

This quick guide from NHS Employers contains top digital communications tips to help you effectively communicate the work your STP is doing to all interested parties.

Caught in the Middle, Managers May Turn to Unethical Means

New research suggests middle managers may literally find themselves caught in the middle when top managers set unrealistic goals. As such, the middle managers may promote unethical behavior among subordinates.Read article here

Attract, retain and motivate your staff with Reward

NHS Employers has developed a quick guide to lead you through the three phases of the reward strategy toolkit to help you to develop an effective approach to reward for your organisation.

Using mobile technology for reward communications

New case study from NHS Employers with North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation trust which looks at the development of a mobile phone app which aims to increase reward communications to staff.

The case study includes why the trust decided to develop the app, the challenges they faced, and how it helped the trust to improve their communications.

Communication skills training for mental health professionals working with people with severe mental illness

Research evidence suggests that both mental health professionals and people with severe mental health illness such as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder find it difficult to communicate with each other effectively about symptoms, treatments and their side effects so that they reach a shared understanding about diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Effective use of communication skills in mental health interactions could be associated with increased patient satisfaction and adherence to treatment.

This Cochrane Review looks at the effectiveness of communication skills training for mental health professionals who work with people with severe mental illness.

Toolkit: for communications and engagement teams in service change

This document from NHS Improvement provides useful information on effective communications and engagement for teams going through programmes that might require service change.

Voices of medicine: changes in doctor–patient communication

This article looks at the changing communication strategies between the doctor and the patient over the years.

Patient death reveals 'no coordination' between mental health services

A coroner has raised concerns about the lack of coordination in mental health services for young people in Birmingham, after a patient under NHS care was found hanged. Read more HERE (subscription to HSJ required)

Mental health: disabled and deaf people

This report makes recommendations to improve access to mental health services for disabled people and deaf people in London. It argues for pan-London communications support for those who are deaf or have learning disabilities and an investigation into the issues around employment, housing, crime and transport to enable disabled people and deaf people to live independent lives.

• Report

Healthcare social media toolkit

This toolkit from Skills for Health aims to support the health care sector in utilising social media effectively and efficiently. It includes guidance on strategy and content creation, downloadable templates and resources and advice on how to encourage team members in using social media.

Updated NHS Identity guidelines

The NHS Identity guidelines, which set out how to use the NHS brand on websites, in publications and elsewhere have been updated.

Cultural trend of not discussing mental health needs to stop

We need to stop saying 'I'm fine', says Kate Leaver

Every day, all over the world, people are answering the question "How are you?" with a casual, non-committal "I’m fine". Like a chorus of mundanity: "I’m fine", "I’m fine", "I’m fine". We say it as a matter of habit and, especially, when we’re anything but fine. It’s the easiest way to stop follow-up questions and the simplest way to signal to the world that you’ve got your stuff together. It’s also the fastest way to shut down any genuine conversation about how we really are.

Health and wellbeing communications guide

NHS Employers has published a new guide for NHS health and wellbeing leads, to support them to deliver their health and wellbeing programme and supporting interventions.

This communications guide includes sections on planning your communications, building evaluation into your plan, how to appropriately choose your communications channels and developing a health and wellbeing brand - all while working with communications colleagues.

Medical professionalism matters

The GMC's Medical professionalism matters report is the culmination of 18 months of events and conversations with the medical profession, from GPs, consultants and trainees who work on the ground, to royal colleges, training providers and employers.

Among the most frequently raised issues during the seven UK-wide events were the lack of time and support to make a reality of reflective practice – at every stage of a doctor’s career. Doctors also cited problems around professional isolation, fragmentation of care for patients and poor communication.

One of the biggest complaints was about the yawning communication gap between primary and secondary care, which many felt had worsened in the last 20 years. Meanwhile many felt that doctors in training were especially vulnerable because their constant rotations meant they never feel part of a team.

Multi-Disciplinary Working – What are the barriers?

The RCOphth hosted an evening event on Thursday 1 December 2016, at which a panel discussed: “Multi-Disciplinary Working – What are the barriers?”.

A recurring theme of the evening was the need for good communication between the different professional groups. It was noted that high quality care was most likely to be delivered where there was a culture of respect for different disciplines, but sometimes extended roles were viewed with suspicion. It was acknowledged that tensions between different groups existed but many of these could be overcome by effective clinical leadership.

Communication should include systematic feedback on referrals. It was observed that there was a significant variation in the quality of referrals into the hospital eye service; most were of a high quality but a small minority of optometrists were too ready to refer and audit was a good tool for identifying those who needed specific support.

Harnessing technology to support service innovation

Dr Shera Chok, Clinical Associate in the new care models programme, a GP in Tower Hamlets Together vanguard (@TH2GETHER) and Director of Primary Care, Barts Health NHS Trust discussed the importance of relationships within a clinical community. This time she looks at communications technology, a key facilitator for change, including:

• using the online communication platform ‘Skype’ for video consultations
• developing a range of channels to help share data and speak to GPs

Using benefit champions to promote staff rewards

Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust share in a new case study how they recruited a network of staff, known as benefit champions, to help improve communication around reward and benefits.

NHS Employers

Inspiring improvement newsletter

NHS Improvement has published its October Inspiring Improvement newsletter. This edition contains:

• What is your fab idea for change?
• Bringing the joy back into care
• How can you help others to understand quality improvement?
• Getting things right from the start - about the Acute Medical Model (AMM) Programme

We need patients and the public to shape local health plans, say NHS leaders

Patients and the public across England are set to be asked to help the local NHS make decisions about how best to develop services. 

The NHS in England is today (Thursday) publishing national advice for local health and social care leaders preparing what are known as local Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs).