Posted on: 9 April 2021
This week’s leadership message comes in the form of a video blog from Rob Webster, CBE, and our CEO Lead for the Partnership. Rob is also the CEO for South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. This week’s blog comes from Sayma Mirza, Associate Director for System Leadership and Development - Act as One - System Transformation Programme - Bradford District and Craven.
Hello my name is Sayma.
"If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always got" - Henry Ford
The number of times people from diverse backgrounds are told you didn’t get the job because you don’t have the relevant senior experience begs the question ‘how will we ever close the gaps in representation at senior leadership levels if we don’t take the steps to do things differently, truly shifting the status quo?’
Reduced opportunities for training and development, not being part of the inner circle, micro aggressions, increased likelihood of bullying and harassment, often being twice as likely to not be appointed from shortlisting compared to your white colleagues results in not having the same opportunities to develop the strategic experience so often cited as a requirement for senior posts.
This leads me to ask, who is responsible for helping people from diverse backgrounds to gain the strategic experience required to close the gaps in senior leadership positions? Is this the fault or responsibility of the individual or are we seeing the negative impact of structural racism and white privilege play out that repeatedly prevent a shift in the cultural paradigm required for transformational change?
The hidden veil behind which many intricate decisions are made at a granular level that act as anchors preventing the ship from leaving the port and sailing into the sunny horizon that yearns to be experienced and explored by all. The plans for change hoping to shift the dial on inclusion have not gone far enough in the past to enable the change we seek at the pace and consistency we need. Glacial and inconsistent progress exasperated by the global pandemic has been seen, leading to many amongst us feeling they have been left behind.
Too broken, worn down, weary, tired and angry at the injustice. This was never a level playing field and has been accepted as the norm for too long. The reality is the current data and personal experiences paint a very different picture to the future we are committed to seeking.
We have to be bold in our ambitions for change and cannot expect what got us here, to get us there. In order to break that ‘glass ceiling’ that too many people like me experience once you reach a certain level in your career, requires true commitment for change and leaders within our systems to take personal accountability for different results.
I am however hopeful for change and that change has come in the form of a ‘Fellowship’ programme aimed at people from ethnic minority backgrounds. A product (and one of many) of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership system ambition; which led to a coproduced programme taking positive action to tackle the thorny issue of relevant experience that so many of us are denied.
Since starting the programme my emotions have swung like a pendulum between excitement, scepticism, determination, hope and optimism. Scepticism because of the reality I have personally experienced and witnessed with others for such a long time that still makes me question are we doing enough? Will this be the change we seek at the pace and scale required? But also optimism and hope that when we work together for change with a shared purpose, transformation can happen. Collective ambition and shared purpose is a useful weapon in our armoury at attempts for real change.
CEO for South West Yorkshire Partnership Trust and Lead CEO for West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership Rob Webster were instrumental in helping us see the power of this at the opening of the fellowship programme. Asking ‘why do you do what you do? Immediately helping everyone recognise the shared purpose we are bound together by; to make a difference. A true difference that can only lead to better outcomes for those that we serve, when each of us is represented at every level. A difference that will only become a reality when we work together on a shared purpose. A reality where everyone wins.
How is the fellowship programme helping me? The programme has provided me with hands on Associate Director level experience in the wider system. I have been supporting the development of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate ICS and ICP’s form and function work, following the recent publication of the White Paper.
Juggling two roles at the same time and creating adequate capacity to undertake the programme has been difficult at times. However I have gained invaluable insight from experienced leaders in our system and the Inspiring Leaders Network. The programme has affirmed my existing knowledge on strategic governance, finance, culture and I have participated in a shadow board programme. This has enhanced my skills at critique and challenge at a senior level.
Guided by my personal mentor and a career coach I have started thinking, demonstrating and leading more strategically. I am a big believer of, you get out what you put in so I am maximising on the opportunity that has come my way and truly believe I can make a difference. A difference for myself and for others. Establishing a fellowship circle and networking with other fellows has meant I have been open and honest about my vulnerabilities, fears but also hopes about the future. We have challenged each other on how we are making the most of the opportunities the fellowship has brought, leading to mutual respect and support for each other.
How is the fellowship helping others? My voice and that of other fellows, advocates for others at the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership Board; the highest governance forum, a meeting held in public, within our West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership. We are one of the strongest voices in the room, influencing for increased inclusion and diversity.
Will the positive action we are taking lead to the deconstruction of decades of structural and systemic racism? It’s a start, a very good start on this long and laborious journey to seek true change. So in the words of Kamala Harris we have to continue to "Dream with ambition, lead with conviction and see yourselves in a way that others may not, simply because they have never seen it before. But know that we will applaud you every step of the way."
Change is coming in West Yorkshire and Harrogate, are you coming along for the ride?
Have a good weekend everyone.
Sayma
What else has been happening this week?
Health and housing
We’re working with the University of Huddersfield on a report which looks at the importance of investment in low carbon housing for the health and wellbeing of our communities. The work covers both new build housing and retrofits and explores some of the challenges and opportunities associated with each. We also plan to carry out some analysis on the impact of fuel poverty across West Yorkshire and Harrogate and establish the populations who are the worst affected.
Research into the experience of homeless and rough sleepers
In Wakefield, Calderdale and Kirklees we are working with Groundswell UK to carry out peer led research into the experience of homeless and rough sleepers accessing health care services. In Leeds and Bradford we are working in partnership with Bevan Health Care and Groundswell UK to develop a network of inclusion health peers to support homeless and rough sleepers.
Healthy and Sustainable Hospitals framework
As part of the Healthy and Sustainable Hospitals framework we are developing a waiting list prioritisation tool to address health inequalities. We have joined forces with Sport England to showcase the Partnership's approaches to increasing physical activity and are working in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University on system working and coproducing resources.
Healthy Hearts Project in West Yorkshire and Harrogate set to stop 1,200 heart attacks and strokes
People with high blood pressure are being identified and offered support thanks to the Healthy Hearts programme in West Yorkshire and Harrogate aiming to prevent 1,200 heart attacks and strokes in the next ten years. GPs are using new data analysis techniques to find patients on their lists who have had raised blood pressure but not been offered any monitoring and invite them for routine blood pressure checks – known to save lives.
Healthy Hearts started in Bradford in 70 GP surgeries and now, thanks to the developed relationships in the Partnership between, the Yorkshire & Humber Academic Health Science Network, GPs, data analysts, hospitals and many others has been scaled up across 316 surgeries across West Yorkshire and Harrogate. It’s expanded from checking the 600,000 people in Bradford to being scaled up across the 2.7m population.
Since 2019:
- 22,000 more people have their blood pressure controlled to target numbers
- 6,900 have been added to the hypertension register ensuring they get at least an annual BP check
- 6,300 patients have had a change to a more effective statin
- 2,400 patients who are at risk of CVD have been offered a statin.
You can read more about Healthy Hearts on the Healthy Hearts website.
42 Integrated care systems
NHS Chief Executive Sir Simon Stevens marked an important milestone for the NHS Long Term Plan on Thursday 1 April, explaining how all parts of the NHS will work with each other and partners for better care and how all areas of England have an integrated care system. Watch this film to hear more from our CEO Lead, Rob Webster, on our Partnership, also known as an integrated care system.
To support the announcement, there was a BBC interview on Thursday 1 April with Hugh Pym and Sir Simon Stevens, and with Dr James Thomas at Skipton Surgery about Healthy Hearts.
Healthy.io
A smartphone app and home test kit enabling people to test themselves for chronic kidney disease using their mobile phone camera is now being rolled out across GP surgeries in West Yorkshire and Harrogate thanks to a collaboration with Healthy.io. Any GP practice can register their interest in accessing this innovative technology for free. The chronic kidney disease early detection service is delivered in partnership with Healthy.io, the Accelerated Access Collaborative, NHSx and the National Institute of Health Research.
Healthy Living for People with Type 2 Diabetes
We are one of the areas involved in the beta testing phase of Healthy Living - an online, self-management support programme and accompanying structured education pathway for adults with type 2 diabetes. The programme has been launched on a small scale to obtain feedback on the programme and its key features.
Improving Population Health Programme Board
The Improving Population Health Programme Board met on Friday 12 March. In addition to updates from all areas of the programme, members also discussed the West Yorkshire Smoke-free Forum, a Health Equity Fellow proposal and Green Social Prescribing. The next programme board meeting is on Friday 16 April.
Health Inequalities Academy
We circulated a post event handbook to everyone who attended the Health Inequalities Academy launch and published pledges and speaker presentations on the webinars and events pages.
The Joint Committee of Clinical Commissioning Groups
The Joint Committee of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) met in public on Tuesday. The Committee has a shared health programme of work that aims to further improve the health and wellbeing of people living across the area. The meeting was held virtually due to Government social distancing guidelines and to ensure people are not at any unnecessary risk.
The meeting discussed assessment and treatment units for people with complex learning disabilities, and the Partnership’s Healthy Hearts project. The agenda and meeting papers can be viewed here as well as the film link from the meeting.
Harnessing the Power of Communities
The new Harnessing the Power of Communities web pages are now live. As we reach the financial year end, the Harnessing the Power of Communities programme have been finalising funding for a range of voluntary community social enterprise sector (VCSE) led health and care pathways in at least four primary care networks; funding to support VCSE Health Equity Fellows; and health condition specific pathways.
We are busy working with colleagues to assess applications for the NHS Charities Wave 2 funding ( we have received over 100), and there have been two successful bids for the Thriving Communities funding in Leeds and Calderdale around social prescribing and outdoor spaces and the arts.
We are currently working with colleagues to establish a VCSE mental health reference group to bring a VCSE perspective to developments across the partnership around the mental health of staff and to the broader mental health agenda. The first meeting is planned later this month.
West Yorkshire and Harrogate staff mental health hub
The West Yorkshire and Harrogate staff mental health hub offers support for issues from emotional wellbeing to bereavement, burnout, stress and trauma free of charge to people who work in our health, social care, emergency and community voluntary services.
Visit https://workforce.wyhpartnership.co.uk to find out more and please do share with colleagues who may benefit from the help and support.
System Leadership Executive Group
The System Leadership Executive Group meets monthly and is chaired by Rob Webster, our CEO lead. Rob explained the current national position, including the next steps of the Government’s Roadmap. Group members also discussed priorities and operational planning guidance for the NHS, covering the first half of 2021/22. This set out a range of specific requirements that will be addressed through our partnership planning process. Leaders discussed the urgent need to address health inequalities and our approach to planning, delivery and importance of this being a theme throughout. We will also be looking at the synergies for the West Yorkshire Devolution.
In February, the group agreed to support the principle of developing a ‘Learning Disability Health Inequalities Challenge’ across our Partnership and that our response to the inequality highlighted by the Public Health England report (November 2020) into learning disability deaths from COVID is a collective one, with equal buy-in from all partners. This includes putting more resource into the Partnership to support people’s links to housing, employment, workforce training and communications.
Leaders also received an update on our approach to personalised care in system recovery, in particular peoples ‘health is their wealth’. The programme has focused on a number of areas to provide focused and impactful support to our communities. This has cumulated in success stories where people in our places, organisations and grassroots communities have developed the knowledge, skills and confidence in personalised care approaches and many have become champions, ambassadors and emerging leaders of the future. They are helping us create important networks to support the embedding of personalised care.
Supporting our ethnic minority colleagues
Read this think piece on supporting our ethnic minority colleagues from Rob Webster, CBE, and Fatima Khan-Shah.
Rob is our CEO Lead for West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership. He is also the CEO for South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and was named CEO of the Year by the HSJ. Fatima Khan-Shah is our Partnership's Programme Director for Carers and Personalised Care.
Our Partnership won System Leadership System Leadership Initiative of the Year for the Health Service Journal.
The Fellowship
The Fellowship is aimed at colleagues from ethnic minorities aspiring to move into senior leadership (formally known at the BAME Fellowship). Applications are now open for High Potential level 2 the second of our three leadership programmes supporting different carer stages until 30 April.
The High Potential 2 development programme is aimed at those looking to move into a system senior leader role that requires accredited qualification with leadership experience. The programme will enable candidates to connect across service areas/functions to deliver successful outcomes for patients, sectors, communities or staff. You can find out more about this two-year accredited development programme, virtual support sessions and download an application form by visiting the website. Our HSJ award winning development programme will commence on 5 July 2021.
To be eligible to apply you must have a minimum of three years’ experience of working in a leadership or senior role. Please note: This leadership programme has a Level 7 leadership and Management qualification as part of the development, therefore all successful candidates will still be required to undertake the Level 7 leadership and management learning without the need to submit assessment criteria if they already hold a level 7 qualification or equivalent. This is open to all partners and their employees from across the Partnership with line manager approval. For more information contact samantha.
Managing diabetes during Ramadan
Dr Waqas Tahir, Clinical Diabetes Lead for the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership and Bradford District and Craven System Programme has produced some guidance for clinicians supporting people with diabetes who are fasting during Ramadan. This year Ramadan will start on 12 April for 30 days.
Patient and Carers Leave A Lasting Legacy On Cancer Services In Mid Yorkshire
Patient and carer involvement in a £5 million investment in services to enhance personalised care and support for those living with and beyond cancer across South and Mid Yorkshire has helped to leave a lasting legacy of positive developments in the area.
The Macmillan Living With and Beyond Cancer Programme – which includes Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust - has published the findings of its final evaluation report. Improvements have been far reaching across the entire programme area, with £2.5 million invested into new roles within services, improving IT and digital connectivity, establishing patient support groups and providing the cancer workforce with valuable learning and development opportunities. The investment will also support regional cancer services in meeting the challenges brought about by the pandemic.
The programme’s Patient Advisory Board has been instrumental in approving funding and development decisions in regional cancer services, including four Macmillan Cancer Support roles at the Mid Yorkshire Trust. These roles support the emotional, financial and psychological impacts of a cancer diagnosis, as well as helping patients and their loved ones navigate the health and social care system.
Macmillan’s final evaluation report found that patient involvement was embedded throughout all the programme structures, with partners describing the patient and carer involvement as “exemplar” across the UK.
Paul Vose, pictured, from Ackworth, Wakefield, was treated for cancer 15 years ago and is a Lay Member of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance Board. Paul has also been part of the Macmillan Patient Advisory Board for four years. He said:
“I think we’ve made a difference; the Macmillan programme has let patients in and brought organisations from across health and care together to improve services and patient experiences.”