Below are this week’s key messages from the national NHS Estates & Facilities Team. Please email any questions or comments you have on any of these items to: [email protected] or follow the links where provided.
COVID-19: Updated PHE Guidance on NHS Staff & Student Self-isolation and Return to Work following C19 Contact
Please follow this link for a joint letter from Prerana Issar, Ruth May and Nikki Kanani about the updated guidance from Public Health England for NHS staff and student self-isolation following COVID-19 contact.
This follows the change in arrangements which came into effect on August 16. The national Estates and Facilities Team has helped to shape this letter so it would be appreciated if this could be brought to the attention of estates and facilities staff, also including those colleagues employed by third parties.
NHS Chef 2021
The regional heats for the North East and Yorkshire and North West regions took place on August 10 and 12 respectively. There were some really good contestants showcasing their skills at both events. Applications for the remaining regions (East of England, London, Midlands, South East and South West) close on August 20.
Further updates on the remaining regional heats will be provided in due course. We wish the competitors for these regional heats the very best of luck.
A mentoring event will be held from September 28 to 30 at the MKN Office and Presentation Kitchen in Cannock. This will allow the winning team from each regional heat to network, attend practical sessions to help develop their entries for the finals and to work with their mentors. The final will be held between October 25 and November 5 at The Cooking School in Warminster.
The idea for a new award that celebrates NHS chefs was put forward in the Independent Review of NHS Hospital Food published in October 2020. It was part of a range of recommendations to support and develop hospital chefs. We are extremely grateful to all those who have applied to take part and to their estates and facilities teams for supporting them.
The NHS Great Food Programme: For Culinary and Kitchen Teams
This programme incorporates 12 months of work-based learning which is open to chefs of any age.
Chefs will take part in a mix of work-based learning and interactive workshops. Participants will explore subjects including: menu specification; portion control and budget constraints; as well as improving efficiency and reducing food waste.
The programme will be further enriched with sessions based around; nutrition and dietetics, food safety, kitchen operations and culinary innovation.
Anyone wishing to register their early interest should e-mail: [email protected].
E-mail from Simon Corben to Directors of E&F - Spending Review/Investment in the NHS Estate
We would like to thank all those estates and facilities teams which responded to the urgent request for information to help support the development of the case for investment in the estate through the forthcoming Spending Review. We are now reviewing the responses which will help to shape and strengthen our case for investment in the NHS estate.
Procure23 Framework launches to the Market and P22 Extension Confirmed
The ProCure23 Prior Information Notice (PIN) was recently launched to market, with formal procurement to follow.
ProCure23 (P23), formerly known as P2020, enables NHS clients to access experienced and proficient partners to support across all aspects of NHS capital project delivery. P23 builds on the successes of three previous iterations of the ProCure framework that have delivered over £10 billion of projects for the NHS. The framework has been updated to better reflect the changing needs of the NHS, to prioritise pandemic recovery and acknowledge the other infrastructure and ongoing capital projects.
From business case development/approval, sustainability, design and construction to disruption mitigation, benefit realisation and optimised occupation, the updated framework will provide more flexibility for contractors and bring the latest best practice in construction methods, modern methods of construction and digital infrastructure to the NHS.
With climate change at the forefront of the global discussion, P23 focuses on delivering greener facilities, reducing carbon emissions throughout the process and promoting social value. Through updates on the NHS Futures Collaboration Hub, our LinkedIn page and the upcoming Estates and Facilities monthly newsletter, the team will endeavour to provide updates and developments on the framework and its progress.
For the first time as part of the ProCure structure, the lower value lot (<£20m) will be split into the seven NHS England and NHS Improvement geographical regions. This is intended to open the framework to suitable regional and medium-sized contractors, enhance capacity and increase local backing for projects.
There are three lots available, including the addition of regional lots for the first time:
• Lot 1: Regional lots (new) - £0m-£19.99m
• Lot 2: National lot - £20m-£69.99m
• Lot 3: National lot - £70m+
In addition to the benefits to the NHS, P23 offers a multitude of benefits to suppliers and contractors. P23 represents industry best practice and as with previous frameworks, there is a commitment to partnerships, establishing long-term relationships which benefit our NHS and the contractors involved. Collaborative working and integrated supply chains are at the heart of P23.
An invitation to tender will be published in the near future and we will also be communicating further for offers of support with the evaluation process.
Extension of P22 framework
NHS England and NHS Improvement has also confirmed that the existing ProCure22 (P22) framework will be extended until June 30, 2022. This is to enable continuity of design and construction services via P22 for the NHS until its successor framework, ProCure23 (P23), becomes available for use by NHS clients.
Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services
The Non-Emergency Patient Transport Review was published recently by NHS England and NHS Improvement. This follows work by the national NHS Estates and Facilities Team, working in partnership with the national strategy team and a number of critical stakeholders to complete the analysis of the current service and provide recommendations for the service going forward. We encourage everyone to read the review report which can be accessed here.
It should also be noted that there is the opportunity for anyone in estates and facilities teams to submit comments on the eligibility consultation from both a professional work and personal perspective.
National Webinar: Fire Update
The national Estates and Facilities Team in conjunction with the National Association of Healthcare Fire Officers will be running a national webinar which updates on fire safety and the many risks which need to be managed. This will be taking place on September 8 at 11am. Further details will follow including the link to register.
National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness – rescheduled national webinar
Due to high levels of annual leave the next scheduled webinar; ‘Living and Breathing the National Standards in the NHS’, will now take place on October 20 at 10am. Invitations have already been issued. However, if you would like to attend you can still register directly via the link in the key events section of the Collaboration Hub.
Recordings of the recent webinars on: Audit; Implementation and governance; and Risk categories and blended areas are available via the Collaboration Hub.
Linen and Laundry Supplies
As a result of continuous pressures on suppliers arising from both EU Exit and the COVID-19 pandemic, NHS Trust staff are asked to review their local practices to avoid the creation of additional laundry volumes and charges. Revisions to local policies around changing bed linen and best practice for example may have been introduced and should be followed. This is essential if there is to be a collective responsibility for all sites to have consistent safe practices across healthcare.
For those NHS Trusts using reusable PPE gowns in fluctuating volumes, please maintain contact with your linen and laundry supplier in the coming months to manage ordering of gowns and shelf stock. This will become even more important as we approach the busier winter period.
Please e-mail: [email protected] in the event of any queries or if any further information is required and mark for the attention of Louise Hatwell.
PLACE
In 2020 a decision was taken to suspend the full PLACE programme due to the operational difficulties and associated risks brought about by COVID-19. PLACE-Lite remained open for healthcare organisations to undertake assessments if they chose to do so. It was great to hear that a number of organisations did run PLACE-Lite and used the results to continue making improvements to the environment for the benefit of patients.
We had hoped to reinstate the full PLACE programme this year. However, in light of the continuing uncertainties that remain with COVID-19 we recognise that to do so could be extremely challenging. We have taken the difficult decision to suspend the full programme for a second year and to encourage the use of PLACE Lite instead. In order to provide as much support as possible we will be producing a standalone PLACE-Lite guidance document and encouraging take up of PLACE-Lite through additional communications and engagement in the coming weeks and months. It is our expectation that all documents and any necessary system updates will be complete and ready for use in September. We do not anticipate a great deal of change to the current assessment forms, but we will confirm any changes that are made.
It is recommended to conduct assessments in line with PLACE processes as far as possible, and current guidance is available here.
Please watch out for further details on the dedicated PLACE-lite guidance when it becomes available in the next few weeks.
£1million Competition – Supporting Innovations to help deliver NZC
The Greener NHS programme, in collaboration with the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare, AHSN Network and the Accelerated Access Collaborative, has recently launched a £1 million competition to find and support innovations that will help to deliver a net zero NHS.
As you will be aware, the NHS recently became the world’s first health system to commit to reaching net zero carbon, in response to the health threat posed by climate change. This competition will support the NHS in delivering on its ambitions through seeking low carbon healthcare innovations that take into account the supply chain, full product life-cycle, as well as the impact that these solutions will have on carbon emissions.
Innovation is key to developing technologies that address this complex problem, and investment now will accelerate action as well as reduce the costs of decarbonisation across the sector in the longer term.
The competition is particularly suited to small and medium-sized organisations, including commercial organisations and charities, as well as NHS Trusts. The deadline for applications is August 24 at 1pm, with shortlisting scheduled for September and contracts awarded in November 2021.
For further details, including the challenge brief, application guidance and the application form, please visit the SBRI Healthcare website. A recording of the briefing webinar is also available.
If there are any questions about the competition, or the application process then please e-mail: [email protected]
The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare: The NHS Forest – Tree Offer
The NHS Forest, run by the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, is a good practice network for NHS sites looking to develop their green spaces for environmental care and human wellbeing. The network of over 200 sites across the UK has already planted over 77,000 trees. NHS Trusts/sites can contact the NHS Forest for free native British broadleaf saplings to plant on their land in the next tree planting season, starting in November 2021.
Sites can request between 10 and 1,000 trees. The NHS Forest can also provide assistance and guidance with the whole process from species selection, planting protocol, and any press releases or volunteer events. For more information please contact Miriam, the NHS Forest co-ordinator ([email protected]) or to find out more about its work and to join the network please go to: https://www.nhsforest.org
NHS Leadership Academy
The NHS National Leadership Academy is currently taking applications for its National Leadership programme. The 2021/22 Leadership Programme document provides a brief overview about what is on offer and the cost for each programme.
We would like all estates and facilities teams to be aware of this opportunity and ensure that staff are supported in taking forward any applications. We are also extremely keen to ensure that those colleagues from our under-represented groups are also made aware and encouraged to apply.
Improving Digital Skills: Opportunity for all NHS staff including Estates and Facilities
Health Education England’s Talent for Care team is funding access to award-winning software to improve digital skills (and numeracy and literacy too if desired). The software is called Basic Key Skills Builder (bksb) and can be accessed anytime, from any device. This is not an online course, but a scheme of self-study that fits around the learner’s commitments. Once registered and set-up, the learner takes a diagnostic self-assessment (roughly 30 questions) to establish their current level of skill. The results of this establish an Individual Learning Plan for that person. They are then free to follow that plan at their own pace.
Further details
All health and social care employers are entitled to this offer. Your employer may already be signed up and be utilising this support for staff. Whether they are or not, all managers are entitled to a 30-minute consultation meeting/call with bksb, which we strongly encourage you to utilise. In this meeting your bksb representative will discuss your specific needs and will work with you to tailor a support package to meet them. S/he will take you through the following:
• The simple sign-up process
• The initial and diagnostic assessments, which form the individual learning plans
• How to check learners’ progress and run reports for cohorts of learners
• Dyslexia and dyscalculia indicators and more.
Next Steps
All you need to do is e-mail: [email protected] requesting your HEE funded consultation. A member of the team will then e-mail you back to arrange a suitable time.
This offer is part of Talent for Care’s Skills for Life portfolio. You can also e-mail the programme lead: [email protected] for any further advice or information.
Please follow the national NHS Estates and Infrastructure team on twitter @EstatesNHS
NHS England and NHS Improvement National Estates Team: Collaboration Hub
The Collaboration Hub is a protected space for local NHS estates and facilities teams to access key information as well as to collaborate and to share ideas and successes. Access to the Collaboration Hub for individuals from local NHS estates teams can be arranged by e-mailing: [email protected]
We have been arranging “overview and masterclasses” to help registered members understand and navigate the Hub more effectively. These have taken place on an ad hoc basis to date. However, following the very positive feedback we are now looking to formalise these on a more regular basis. If you are interested in attending one of these sessions (they last approximately 30 minutes) then please e-mail the above mailbox and Joy Heaps and Stuart Robinson will follow up directly.
Could we also request that if you have not logged onto the Hub recently then you do so as soon as possible. As part of our governance procedures we are currently undertaking an exercise to review those members who according to our records have not accessed the Hub during the past 12 months. We are contacting those members and it is possible that membership will be withdrawn if there is no response to the e-mails which have been sent (by Stuart Robinson). In addition, if your e-mail address has changed over the past year (perhaps to .nhs.net), or you have moved to another NHS trust then please e-mail us with the details ([email protected]) so that we can update our records.
Thank You
Our thanks to all of those working in estates and facilities for all that you do in maintaining the NHS estate, facilitating patient care as well as supporting the ongoing response to COVID-19.
Please continue to stay safe and access the support material available on the Collaboration Hub. The service could not function without you.
