SoR president elect Rachel Nolan has shared her support for Let’s Talk About Flex, a campaign created by NHS unions to promote flexible working.
As part of her backing for the campaign, Mrs Nolan was profiled on the Let’s Talk About Flex website, in her role as assistant imaging services and professional lead in the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust’s (NWAFT) imaging department. She was asked to share how flexible working has enhanced her department and benefitted crucial areas of work - particularly in terms of retention and staff satisfaction.
Mrs Nolan said that flexible working was introduced in her department 20 years ago, and said that it’s “a core part of our working culture”.
“I’m surprised when I hear so many people in the profession talk about flexible working requests being denied by managers – flexibility feels like a basic expectation in our department,” she told Let’s Talk About Flex.
How does flexi work at NWAFT?
The NWAFT imaging department covers two acute sites and five community sites. It is supported by a team of 300 staff.
In terms of how flexible working should be implemented, Mrs Nolan shared the rules the ultrasound department sticks to to ensure fairness and parity in flexible work. For example, flexi-days are confirmed in advance to ensure staffing is even throughout the week, and working patterns are agreed upon with the Principal Sonographer.
In addition, annual leave is approved centrally to ensure cover, and a majority of shifts begin at 8am with a small number beginning at 8:30am. Trainees work pre-set patterns throughout their training and preceptorship. “This ensures they are supported and supervision is always on hand in those early days,” Mrs Nolan explained. “Flexible working is then available post preceptorship.”
Let’s Talk About Flex
Let’s Talk About Flex is a campaign shared between a number of NHS unions, including the Society of Radiographers, the British Orthoptic Society and the Royal College of Nursing. Its aim is to inform workers and managers about the benefits of flexible working and the positive impact it has on patient care.
Click here to read Rachel Nolan’s case study in full.
(Image: Rachel Nolan, via Eva Slusarek)