20 October 2009
An awards ceremony celebrated the hard work of 50 members of staff from Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals recently, as they all picked up either a diploma in management or a NVQ certificate. As well as being great news for the staff involved, it also means that the Trust is an even safer place for patients, staff and visitors.
The ceremony saw 40 members of staff collect a NVQ in health and safety, while 13 others picked up their management diplomas – three staff members were awarded both a NVQ and diploma. The staff members receiving awards ranged from midwives to assistants in the Trust's IT team
Julia Sinclair, the Trust's general manager for cancer services was one of the few who received a management diploma and a NVQ. She said: "It's hard to manage studying as well as a job, but all of the hard work has been worth it.
"Getting an extra qualification like this is a real boost to your confidence and reminds you that you're doing a good job – I'd recommend it to anyone."
Yasmin Ashrafi, the A&E service manager picked up her level three NVQ in occupational safety and health. She said: "I'm really happy that I've got my level three now. We're always looking to make improvements in terms of health and safety and doing the NVQ is a great way of checking that you're on the right track.
"It's fantastic that all our efforts were recognised with an awards ceremony too. Not only is it good that we get the chance to relax and celebrate our achievements but also that our hard work has been acknowledged."
To pass the NVQ, candidates have to prove to assessors that they can reduce risks posed to the health and safety of patients and staff, as well as be able to promote the benefits of a healthy and safe culture in the workplace.
NVQ assessor, Gill Tweedale-Sexton said: "Doing a NVQ isn't about learning, it's about proving what you already do to improve health and safety and everyone at the ceremony has worked incredibly hard to do just that.
"Extra qualifications such as this are a great boost to any NHS trust – it gives staff the confidence to implement improvements, as well as promoting the importance of a good health and safety culture."
Paul Maskell is the Trust's lead for health and safety and is one of the project leaders for the NVQ initiative. He said: "We want to make our hospitals as safe as possible, and the way to do that is by empowering our staff to make a difference. These members of staff have improved their knowledge of health and safety issues and can now pass on their experience to the people around them.
"Obviously, this is great news for everyone at our hospitals, but it's also a boost for the members of staff that now have this nationally recognised qualification. It's a fantastic way to get something back. All of their hard word has paid off."
