CMP Resolutions sponsored the Healthcare People Management Association (HPMA) ‘Courage to Manage’ award for two years.  Last night saw the award given to …

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.  Their project took a proactive approach to promoting and maintaining a constructive and respectful working environment, while the Trust underwent a major revision of its pay award process, and was immediately identified by the judging panel as a truly courageous and well managed programme of change.

The Trust implemented a pay progression policy that required staff to apply for their increment by demonstrating that they have participated in activities that were essential parts of their employment.  Instead of thinking that pay progression is an automatic right, the Trust collaborates with employees in the joint belief that it should be earned.

How it improved HR practice, according to Polly McMeekin, Deputy Director of Workforce and OD, and Chris Mannion, HR PB

“The Trust has experienced modest increases in both mandatory training and appraisal rates, and we have identifed a marked increase in appraisal quality and an increased focus in achieving objectives set in appraisals. At a time of introducing a potentially contentious process, the Trust has maintained a staff engagement figure that places it in the top 20% of trusts in the country. We have not been flooded with grievances or litigation which we think stands testament to a well communicated change with a fair process for all to follow.

The proposal could easily have been perceived as a money-saving exercise and this was only avoided through careful drafting and a reliance on the mutual trust between managerial and staff side representatives.  What we have learned is taking a path untravelled can be more rewarding than simply taking the path of least resistance.”

The two runners up to the Courage To Manage Award

• From “Whaddya want?” to “How can I help?” Changing the mothers and staff experience – Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
• Managing conflict in Northumbria Healthcare

Congratulations to them both for excellent programmes that evidenced a real courage to tackle difficulties in the workplace, and by doing so with honesty, creativity and guts, both arrived at a place of real improvement and empowerment for staff.

We were delighted to find that of the 16 other categories, CMP’s clients made up 4 of the winners and 6 of the finalists!   You can also download the full guide to the winners and runners up.

The award categories and winners

Award for inovation in HR Winner: Chealsea and Westminster Hospital

Social Partnership Forum for partnership working between employers and trade unions Winner: Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

Excellence in improving employee health & wellbeing Winner: Birmingham Childrens Hospital

Excellence in organisational development Winner: Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

Best practice and innovation using ESR Winner: Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

HR’s contribution to organisational change and/or turnaround Winner: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

CIPD award for best improvement of HR capability in a team Winner: Great Ormand st Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

The Aston OD award for team based working Winner: Birmingham Childrens Hospital

The HSJ award for strategic approach to recruitment Winner: South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust

Leadership development Winner: Imperial College Heathcare NHS Trust

APPRECIATE Champion Winner: Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Deputy HR director of the year Winner: Joan Peden of Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

HR director of the year Winner: Jinger Kandola of Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

HR team of the year Winner: East North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

President’s award for outstanding lifetime achievement Winner: Prof. Michael West

Overall winner of the winners – East North Hertfordshire NHS Trust