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  • Award success for Bedfordshire Breastfeeding Buddies

    by User Not Found | Jun 20, 2023

    A group of caring and diligent volunteers have been recognised for their vital contribution to breastfeeding support.

    The Breastfeeding Buddies from Bedfordshire Community Health Services (part of Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust) are regional winners for the Volunteer Award category in the NHS Parliamentary Awards, for the support they give in Baby Brasseries, which are groups based in children’s centres in Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire. They were nominated by Mohammed Yasin MP and Richard Fuller MP and shortlisted to go forward to the national judging panel, with national winners being announced at an award ceremony on 5 July 2023.

    The Buddies are all parents who have breastfed/chestfed their own children, and this is key to the 10-year-old programme’s success, as parents welcome the support that comes from a peer who has their own personal experience of infant feeding. Volunteers have time to listen to a parent talk about their experiences, and Buddies are trained in active listening and communication skills, meaning that they are able to be non-judgemental and empathetic when supporting parents. Baby Brasseries are inclusive groups which can be accessed without referral and offer support to expectant parents and nursing parents throughout their journey, no matter how long or short.

    Karen Fell, Volunteer Lead at Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust said: “I’m delighted that our volunteers have been shortlisted for the national Volunteer Award. It recognises both past and present Buddies, with immense gratitude for their contribution.”

    The NHS Parliamentary Awards launched in 2018 to celebrate the NHS’ 70 birthday and recognise the outstanding contribution of staff, volunteers and others working in the health and care sector. Now in its sixth year, the awards have been an overwhelming success with more than 700 nominations being submitted by over half of MPs representing constituencies in England last year alone.

    These awards also provide an excellent opportunity for health and care organisations to engage with their local MPs, tell them about the work they do, and build or strengthen ongoing relationships.

    Sarah Pickford, Baby Friendly Lead said: “We are over the moon that we have been recognised for this award and are excited to go to the national awards next month.

    “By offering easily accessible infant feeding support, the Bedfordshire Breastfeeding Buddies complement the support that the 0-19 team and children’s centre teams offer to families.”

    With a sustainable rolling programme of recruitment and training in place, the longevity of the programme is assured. It is also no stranger to being recognised for its key contribution. Bedfordshire Community Health Services were the first service in the East of England to achieve the Unicef Gold Award for Baby Friendly Accreditation (in 2020). This is the highest level of Unicef Baby Friendly accreditation and celebrates excellent and sustained practice in the support of infant feeding and parent-infant relationships. [END]

    For further information contact Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust’s Communications Team on katrina.marshall-beharry@nhs.net or 07517553074.

    Notes for editors

    Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust provides the following extensive portfolio of services:

    • a range of children’s services to children, young people and families in (Cambridgeshire and Norfolk)
    • school age immunisation programme (Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Peterborough and Suffolk)
    • iCaSH: Integrated Contraception and Sexual Health Services (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Milton Keynes, Norfolk, Peterborough and Suffolk)
    • dental services (Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Suffolk)
    • musculo-skeletal services and pelvic health physiotherapy services (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough)
    • the Oliver Zangwill Centre for Neuropsychological Rehabilitation and the Evelyn Community Head Injury Service
    • Children and Adults’ Community Health services for the residents of Luton
    • Children and Adults’ Community Health services for the residents of Bedfordshire are provided in partnership with East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT).

    Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust: providing services across Bedfordshire,  Cambridgeshire, Luton, Norfolk, Peterborough and Suffolk

    www.cambscommunityservices.nhs.uk

    Follow us on Twitter: @ccs_nhst

    Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/CCSNHST

  • Trust board public meeting – 17 May 2023

    by Sarah Turner | May 11, 2023

    A set of papers for the board meeting has been published on our website here. If you would like to join this virtual meeting, please do email ccs.trustsecretary@nhs.net who can provide you with the link to the meeting. Whilst this is a meeting held in public, rather than a public meeting, there is usually an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions at the end of each meeting.

    In addition, members of the public can submit any questions to the board for consideration by emailing ccs.trustsecretary@nhs.net - please keep questions brief and to the point, and use ‘Trust Board Meeting Question’ in the subject heading of your email. Responses will either be posted on the Trust’s board meeting webpage following the meeting or can be found in the minutes published in due course.

  • Industrial action between 30 April - 1 May

    by Sarah Turner | Apr 27, 2023

    The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has confirmed that strike action will take place within our Trust from 8pm on 30 April until midnight on 1 May 2023.

    We want to reassure people that during strike action the NHS will prioritise emergency and urgent treatment. We have tried and tested plans in place to minimise disruption, including during strike action.

    We will have to re-schedule some routine appointments and activities within our services during strike action to ensure we have safe levels of staffing. We will contact you directly if your appointment needs to be rescheduled. If you do not hear from us please attend your appointment as planned.

    People should continue to come forward as normal if they need care, especially in emergency and life-saving cases (people can go to 111 online for help and advice but call 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency).

    We will continue to update this page as more information becomes available.

    Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust delivers services across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Luton, Milton Keynes, Norfolk, Peterborough and Suffolk.

  • Trust board public meeting – 22nd March 2023

    by Sarah Turner | Mar 20, 2023

    Our Trust board public meeting on Wednesday 22nd March is being held virtually.

    A set of papers for the board meeting has been published on our website here. If you would like to join this virtual meeting, please do email ccs.trustsecretary@nhs.net who can provide you with the link to the meeting. Whilst this is a meeting held in public, rather than a public meeting, there is usually an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions at the end of each meeting.

    In addition, members of the public can submit any questions to the board for consideration by emailing ccs.trustsecretary@nhs.net - please keep questions brief and to the point, and use ‘Trust Board Meeting Question’ in the subject heading of your email. Responses will either be posted on the Trust’s board meeting webpage following the meeting or can be found in the minutes published in due course.

  • Upcoming carriageway resurfacing works in Wisbech

    by Sarah Turner | Mar 10, 2023

    Please note that planned carriageway maintenance works (resurfacing) on both North End and Freedom Bridge Roundabout (RAB) (A1101) in Wisbech will be taking place from Sunday 12th March until Friday 7th April. There will also be some additional works to the inner ring of the roundabout. Please allow extra journey time if you have an upcoming appointment in the Wisbech area. Click here for full details.


  • CCS NHS Trust’s staff survey results are the best in the country compared to our peer community trusts

    by Sarah Turner | Mar 09, 2023

    The national NHS staff survey results are published today and, yet again, thanks to the incredible culture we have built at Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust based on kindness, compassion and putting people first, our results are fantastic!

    It has been another challenging year and we know there is always more we can do to improve our working lives but, despite this, our people’s commitment to one another and to delivering outstanding patient care shines through.

    The chart below summarises our results across nine overall themes (our results are the dark blue columns), compared to our 16 peer community trusts across the country. 

    Overall staff survey

    CCS is the best performing community trust nationally for our staff reporting that:

    • We are compassionate and inclusive
    • We each have a voice that counts
    • We are safe and healthy
    • We are always learning
    • We work flexibly  

    In the other 4 themes below - we were 0.1 mark below the top scoring community trust, which is amazing!   

    • We are recognised and rewarded
    • We are a team
    • Staff engagement
    • Morale

    It is encouraging to see that the percentage of our people reporting they have experienced discrimination due to their ethnic background, gender, religion and/or age has decreased over the past 12 months. In addition, it is also heartening that the percentage of staff from minority ethnic groups who reported experiencing harassment, bullying or abuse from patients, relatives or the public, staff or their manager/team leader or other colleagues has decreased in the last 12 months.

    However, there is always room for improvement and we will soon be engaging with our staff networks and local staff side representatives to develop a plan of action. Initial ideas to focus on include: 

    • Encouraging staff to report all incidents of violence, aggression, bullying and harassment, as well as strengthening support to individuals and our communications to patients/service users that violence, aggression, bullying and harassment will not be tolerated.
    • Building on the changes implemented in our appraisal process to further explore ways colleagues can be more involved in decisions that directly impact their work.
    • Reviewing what more we can do to prevent discrimination, with a particular focus on disability and sexual orientation.
    • Continuing to embed a fair, non-biased recruitment and promotion culture.
  • Non-Executive Director sought for outstanding NHS Trust

    by Sarah Turner | Feb 28, 2023

    Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust (CCS), which delivers community services across the majority of the Eastern region, is seeking an exceptional Non-Executive Director to join its forward-thinking Board.

    Mary Elford, Chair of CCS, said: “We have exciting plans for the future, and I'm looking for a talented and experienced leader to add value to our forward-thinking Board and play a critical role in turning these plans into reality.

    “I’m seeking someone with a commercial background or a clinician with experience of building commercial relationships, or you may have a successful track record of building partnerships and/or integrating services. Ideally you'll have experience of working on a board in the public, private or third sector, however most importantly you will need to have a passion for what we do and a genuine commitment to patients and the promotion of excellent health care services.

    “It’s an exciting time to join our Trust. There are many opportunities through the integrated care systems we are partners in across our regional geography, to develop new and innovative ways to meet needs, improve outcomes and reduce health inequalities.

    “With a proven track record for introducing innovative services, we’re looking for an individual with the vision and commitment to ensure we remain at the vanguard of delivering excellence and the very best outcomes for the communities we serve.”

    This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced leader to make a positive difference to people’s lives, and applicants should live in or have strong connections with at least one of the areas served by the Trust.

    The NHS values and promotes diversity and is committed to equality of opportunity. All appointments are made on merit so that the best people, from the widest possible pool of candidates, are appointed given that the best boards are those that reflect the communities they serve.

    Applications are particularly welcome from people from the local black and minority ethnic communities and disabled people who are under-represented in chair and non-executive roles.

    The closing date for receipt of applications is 9am on Monday 27th March 2023.  

    The candidate information pack, including information on how to apply for this post, can be accessed here.

    If you'd like to find out more about the Trust, Matthew Winn, Chief Executive of CCS, will be holding a webinar at 6pm on Wednesday 22nd March. To join, please email michelle.robinson24@nhs.net to request the Microsoft Teams link.

    We strongly recommend an informal and confidential discussion with Mary Elford. Please email Michelle Robinson (details above) to arrange this.

    NHS England – for general process enquiries, please email Helen Barlow at helen.barlow2@nhs.net

    Listen to Mary Elford, Chair of CCS, talk about our values and the essential criteria she's looking for in a new NED...

     

    Watch Austin Chinakidzwa, Chair of our Cultural Diversity Network, explain how the Network is helping to build an inclusive culture across the Trust, however there's more we're keen to do...

     

     

     
  • Industrial action on 26th January

    by Sarah Turner | Jan 25, 2023

    The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) has confirmed that strike action will take place at our Trust on Thursday 26th January.

    We want to reassure people that during strike action the NHS will prioritise emergency and urgent treatment. We have tried and tested plans in place to minimise disruption, including during strike action.

    We will have to re-schedule some routine appointments and activities within our services during strike action to ensure we have safe levels of staffing. We will contact you directly if your appointment needs to be rescheduled. If you do not hear from us, please attend your appointment as planned.

    People should continue to come forward as normal if they need care, especially in emergency and life-saving cases (people can go to 111 online for help and advice but call 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency).

    Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust delivers services across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Luton, Milton Keynes, Norfolk, Peterborough and Suffolk

  • Trust board public meeting – 25th January 2023

    by Sarah Turner | Jan 19, 2023

    Our Trust board public meeting on Wednesday 25th January is being held virtually.

    A set of papers for the board meeting has been published on our website. If you would like to join this virtual meeting, please do email ccs.trustsecretary@nhs.net who can provide you with the link to the meeting. Whilst this is a meeting held in public, rather than a public meeting, there is usually an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions at the end of each meeting.

    In addition, members of the public can submit any questions to the board for consideration by emailing ccs.trustsecretary@nhs.net - please keep questions brief and to the point, and use ‘Trust Board Meeting Question’ in the subject heading of your email. Responses will either be posted on the Trust’s board meeting webpage following the meeting or can be found in the minutes published in due course.

  • Industrial action on 20th December

    by Sarah Turner | Dec 20, 2022

    The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has confirmed that strike action will take place at our Trust on Tuesday 20 December from 8 am to 8 pm.

    We want to reassure people that during strike action the NHS will prioritise emergency and urgent treatment. We have tried and tested plans in place to minimise disruption, including during strike action.

    We will have to re-schedule some routine appointments and activities within our services during strike action to ensure we have safe levels of staffing. We will contact you directly if your appointment needs to be rescheduled. If you do not hear from us please attend your appointment as planned.

    People should continue to come forward as normal if they need care, especially in emergency and life-saving cases (people can go to 111 online for help and advice but call 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency).

    We will continue to update this page as more information becomes available.

    Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust delivers services across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Luton, Milton Keynes, Norfolk, Peterborough and Suffolk

     
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