South by South East

Thank you and Goodbye!

Dear Colleagues

This is just a short note to say a very big thank you to you all for your support over the past three years. My 3 year secondment to the IHM/NES South-East Managers Development Network came to an end on the 31st March 2010 and I have now returned to my full-time post within NES.

I have really enjoyed my time working with you all to develop a thriving and successful network in the south-east of Scotland. The Network is continuing under the leadership of Christine Hamilton at NES and I know she will shortly be in contact with you all with details of up and coming events. In the meantime Christine’s contact details are:

Phone 0141 352 2946

Mobile 07950 355482

email:  Christine.Hamilton@nes.scot.nhs.uk

Thank you once again to you all for working with me over the last 3 years, it has been a real pleasure. I wish you all continuing success in your various professions and I hope our paths will cross in the future.

Beverley

The Managers Development Network: an update

Despite the pressures of the current financial climate, NES has secured funding to continue the work of the Managers Development Network in 2010-11. In order that the MDN continues to be closely aligned with the needs of current and future participants, NES and IHM staff will be collecting your views on how the MDN can develop into the future.

Borders and Forth Valley have events planned in April and further details will be available soon for events across the rest of Scotland.

Effective Performances even at 8 a.m.!

John Armstrong of On Track Training provided three very enjoyable sessions  on  ”The Manager as Coach: Coaching for Effective Performance”.  Attendees not only had the chance participate in very interactive coaching activities but also got to learn a lot more about their co-attendees.   Networking at its best!   Great fun was had in each location and even I surprised myself by being interactive at 8.a.m. – people who know me well would be surprised by any sign of life at all at that time of the day!  The excellent bacon butties and coffee provided might have had something to do with it. 

To remind yourself  of the approaches and insights John shared with us, take a look  again at his presentation:

AND WE ARE OFF TO A FLYING START!

Our Spring Programme got off to a flying start with a great turnout in both Lothian and Fife looking at procrastination!  Firstly well done to all of you who did not procrastinate, you told me you were coming, you put it in your diaries and you came!  For those of you who are still thinking about whether the Event was for you then obviously it was – you really should have come along and got some useful techniques to help you make those decisions.   Don Garford did a fine job is getting us all to identify why we procrastinate, when we procrastinate and the difference making a few decisions will make not only to our work but also our wellbeing.  Why not take another look at Don’s presentation below:

STOP PRESS!  IF YOU DID MISS DON’S EVENT WHY NOT COME ALONG TO THE BORDERS ON THE 30TH APRIL 2010.

Don will be at the Chaplaincy Centre at Borders General Hospital from 12 – 2 pm on the 30th – don’t hesitate, don’t procrastinate – just book it!

NEW YEAR – NEW CHALLENGES – NEW PROGRAMME!

Happy New Year to you all! 2010 promises to be an exciting one with lots of new challenges, the very first being how to dig the car out of the snow and get safely to work! If nothing else it was a great exercise in community spirit and team working with the neighbour’s children helping enthusiastically until they heard that their school was closed and were off to find their sledges once again!

Our Spring Programme begins at the end of this month with Don Garford getting us to look at how effective we are at decision making. “Procrastination” …………. what does it mean ………………….. let me think about it ………………….. leave it with me! Some people just seems to be able to make decisions ……….. others need more time. Don will give us some hints on how to manage this behaviour plus one or two practical techniques.

In February John Armstrong from On Track Training and Coaching Limited, will introduce the role of workplace coaching and its impact on individuals and teams/departments. An interactive session which includes a dynamic and practical activity as well as plenty of time at the end for John to answer all your questions.

March will see Brian Blake our Co-ordinator in the North, returning to give us plenty of practical advice on how to prioritise our workload. Also this month Peter Gabbitas Director of Health & Social Care Lothian, will share with us how formal and informal development has helped him in his various roles in the health world.

To find out more details about these events and register online today click on the individual event on the right of this screen.

I look forward to welcoming you back to the Network.

TEAMS – LINK TO A GREAT SITE

We all know that working well as a team can make a big difference to health or social care services. But building and maintaining a good team culture isn’t easy. It takes time and skill. Where do you find resources that can help you? How can you tackle problems that your group may be facing?

This site developed by NES is a step in the right direction. It’s aim is to to point you to stuff that can help your team to work and learn well together. With exercises and guidance (particularly in the Toolkits already developed for NHS Scotland) the site makes it easy for you to find what you need. But this is just a start. The idea is that we can all learn from each other – you know what works and what doesn’t, which tips and tricks can make the difference. There is therefore the opportunity to contribute with feedback,ideas and suggestions.

These great resources are available right now just click here to take a look.

“FIRST THINGS FIRST”

Brian Blake our co-ordinator in the North returned once again to Fife and Lothian to give us practical techniques on how to prioritise our workload: those incessant emails, the additional task that needed to be completed right away, the data that suddenly is so important never mind what needs to be completed for “the day job”!

A New Year, a New Challenge is this the time to incorporate the principles of “First Things First”?

Let us know how it works out.

MANAGING RISK & BEHAVIOUR

Hugh Shiels from Tall Poppy had us all glued to our seats whilst when we saw video clips of past aircraft disasters which were caused primarly by human factors. Bad management of risk and communication amongst teams resulted in unsustainable loss of life which left unchecked, could have resulted in a plane carrying 500 passengers crashing every week! Something had to be done and so “Crew Resource Management” was born. Hugh took us through how changing the culture and communication in the airline industry dramatically improved safety in the air.

Hugh will be putting a shortened versiono of this session on his website in two weeks. For more information about this go to www.tallpoppy.org.uk

STOP PRESS: MORE TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR “MANAGING RISK & BEHAVIOUR THROUGH TEAMWORK” IN EDINBURGH

There has been such a good response to Hugh Sheils forthcoming event on “Managing Risk & Behaviours through Teamwork” that another 20 tickets have been released for his Lothian presentation.  Don’t delay – book your place now so you are not disappointed!

GREAT HUMOUR DELIVERED AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE

The World’s fastest man certainly had our thoughts racing in Melrose, Edinburgh and Kirkcaldy.  George’s very humorous and entertaining tales of his rise to fame were well received in each location.  He not only had us laughing in the ailes but also made us think about they key message of how to recognise potential in staff and how to help them reach their goals however large or small.

Did you attend one of these sessions?  Did George’s message hit home with you?  Have you made any changes since? 

All comments welcome!