Speeding up the payment of your eTimesheets

Dear A24 Group Member
 
Unfortunately we’ve been experiencing a number of issues regarding electronic timesheet payments for bookings carried out at NHS Trusts that use eTimesheets.
 
Some NHS Trusts have elected to use this system as it allows them to closely control their agency usage and spend.
Ward managers have been instructed to only “Authorise” bookings where they can clearly see the agency worker completed the assignment that they were booked for. 
 
In most cases delays in payment are on the Trust’s side and result when ward managers do not have sufficient information to confirm your attendance and “Authorise” your timesheet for payment.
 
Payroll and your bookings consultant will always work with you and the relevant ward manager/s to resolve these issues speedily BUT in most cases the delays can be avoided if you follow the guidance below.
 
Feedback from these Trusts highlights that there are four main issues that delay their authorisation of your shifts:
 

• The Agency Worker did not sign the “Agency Book” on the ward to state their start time when they began their shift *** Please Note: Some wards also require you to sign out also
• The Agency Worker is asked to change wards, due to a changing need at the Trust, and they do not sign the “Agency Book” on the original ward to state where they were moved to
• The Agency Worker is asked to change wards and they do not sign the “Agency Book” on the new ward to state the start time and the ward they were moved from
• The Agency Worker works a shift that has not been added to the online booking portal on the wards

Tips:

• Once you arrive for your shift, it is your responsibility to sign the “agency book”. Always ask a member of staff to initial next to your name (this is normally done by the ward manager, ward sister or ward clerk to acknowledge that you have arrived for your shift).
• Politely insist that they sign the book at the time because as you know wards can be busy places and they may forget causing delays in your pay.
• Always note where you were asked to move to and from in the “agency book” books on both wards. This leaves a paper trail to help us get you paid quickly after the shift. This normally results in new booking reference numbers being generated of the Trust’s booking system as each ward is treated as a separate shift when it comes to payments.
• When you have concluded your shift and ready to leave the ward politely ask the ward sister if they could “Authorise” your timesheet.
• In the event that you arrive on a ward and they say the shift you were booked for has been cancelled (this is rare but can happen for a number of reasons) and they then offer to keep you on to work or move you to a different ward to work then it is important they create a new booking for you on the system that can be later “Authorised”. Please let your consultant know in this instance.

Note:
 
To allow us enough time to process payments for the Friday after the booking was carried out, for client s using the eTimesheets our payroll cut off for “Authorised” eTimesheets is Monday at 3pm.
In the event the trust authorises your timesheet after this time the timesheet will be processed in the following week’s payroll run.

To ensure streamlining of payment we also urge candidates to inform us if they have been moved from one ward to another at the client. This way we can update our systems to reflect the correct booking for each candidate and timesheet.
 
By following the above guidance you will help us get you paid as quickly as possible.  However, if you do experience issues with payments for bookings carried out at eTimesheet clients. Please call your consultant to see if the ward has “authorised” your shift.
 
Best Regards
A24 Group Payroll Team
 
 
 
 

Bank Holiday Deadlines – Easter and May 2015

Dear Agency Worker

Please take note of the following to ensure prompt payment during the upcoming 2015 bank holiday periods.
 
Please make sure that your timesheets arrive at the Head Office by post, hand delivered (92-96 Lind Road, Sutton, SM1 4PL), or email: wages@a24group.com as follows:

Please also note the following regarding the deadline for w/e 29/03/15:
 
1. Timesheet submission – end of Tax Year 2014/2015, weekending 29/03/15(shifts including Sunday 29 March 2015).
 
*Weekending 29/03/15 is the last week of the Tax Year 2014/2015 so please get your timesheets into us well before 09.30am Monday 30 March 2015 deadline.
 
For example: If you are working for the whole of the week previous, please send in your timesheets as you complete shifts rather than try to send them all on the Monday morning following that week’s work. Due to the tight timescales Payroll will be processing timesheets as soon as they come in to ensure we can pay you promptly on Thursday 02 April 2015 for the work you have completed the previous week. 

Guidance for staff intending to travel to, or returning from, Ebola affected countries

The on-going outbreak of Ebola in West Africa, primarily affecting Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization. This is the largest outbreak of this disease to ever happen. 

Ebola is a severe and life threatening viral disease caused by the Ebola virus. The onset of illness is sudden, with fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, sore throat and intense weakness. This is then followed by diarrhea, vomiting, rash, impaired kidney and liver function and stomach pain. Some patients may develop a rash, red eyes, hiccups, internal and external bleeding.

Ebola hemorrhagic fever is fatal in between 50 to 90% of all clinically ill cases. Ebola is spread through direct contact with blood and body fluids from infected people. The incubation period ranges from 2 to 21 days. Anyone who has close contact with a person infected with the virus, or someone who handles samples from patients are at risk. This includes hospital staff, family members and laboratory workers, all of whom are at risk if they do not use appropriate protective equipment / barrier nursing techniques. These precautions include wearing protective gowns, gloves, and masks, in addition to wearing eye protection (e.g. eye goggles) or a face shield.

The government advises against all but essential travel to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea except for those involved in the direct response to the Ebola outbreak. It remains unlikely but not impossible that travellers infected in one of the affected countries could arrive in the UK while incubating the disease and develop symptoms after their return. Although the likelihood of imported cases is very low, travellers returning to the UK from the affected areas, particularly those who have been involved in health care overseas, need to remain vigilant.

For staff who are planning to visit Ebola affected countries:

The agency requests that staff follow FCO advice and do not place themselves at risk of infection. The agency recognises that some staff may have family in one of the affected countries but it does not consider essential travel to include, for example, visiting family at Christmas. If staff choose not to follow the FCO advice and travel to one of the affected countries, this may then result in work restrictions and / or exclusion upon return as noted in the scenarios below.

All staff who travel to one of the Ebola affected countries (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone) irrespective of the reason for travel (personal or work related) must contact the agency prior to leaving the UK and on return to the UK, prior to their return to work.

Existing staff who have visited Ebola affected countries - this will mainly apply to those who have visited affected countries for the purpose of charity and/or healthcare work.

If no healthcare work was undertaken whilst in one of the Ebola affected countries, and staff had no direct contact with a known or suspected Ebola, including attending a funeral, staff should:

• Inform the agency prior to departure 
• Monitor their health / temperature for 21 days from leaving the affected country
• If the staff member becomes unwell with symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat or rash within 21 days of coming back from Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone, they should stay at home and immediately telephone 111 or 999 and explain that they have recently visited West Africa. These services will initiate the appropriate care pathway 
• They must keep in touch with the agency prior to return to work
• Staff member will be able to return to work after 21 days

If healthcare work was undertaken abroad or the staff member had direct contact with an Ebola case e.g. routine medical / nursing care but wore appropriate protective clothing with no known breaches in the personal protective equipment (PPE), the staff member should:

• Inform the agency prior to departure 
• Check temperature twice daily for 21 days after return and report any raised temperature or other suspicious symptoms to the monitoring team at Public Health England (PHE)
• Must provide Occupational Health with documentary evidence from their Voluntary Aid agency / affiliated health care institution who organised the overseas placement outlining the extent of their exposure and specific detail regarding the PPE used
• Contact the agency prior to return to work
• Staff member will be able to return to work after 21 days and monitoring completed

If healthcare work was undertaken abroad or the staff member had direct contact with an Ebola case and may have had unprotected exposure of skin or mucous membranes to potentially infectious blood or body fluids, including on clothing or bedding, for example:

• Unprotected handling of clinical/lab specimens
• Mucosal exposure to splashes
• Needlestick injury
• Kissing and / or sexual contact

The staff member should:

• Inform the agency prior to departure 
• Check temperature twice daily for 21 days after return and REPORT DAILY to the
• Monitoring Team at Public Health England (PHE) even if the temperature is normal and the staff member is not experiencing any suspicious symptoms

Staff member will be able to return to work after 21 days and monitoring is completed.

For more information about the Ebola virus disease, see:

Government UK
NHS Choices: Ebola and Overview
Ebola virus disease: clinical management and guidance
Ebola virus disease: information for humanitarian aid workers

Mental Health Nursing and Care with Grosvenor

Grosvenor Nursing selects and places candidates in a range of mental health nursing roles The work is often complex and demanding, but very rewarding - see www.grosvenor-nursing.co.uk

One in three people are thought to suffer from a mental health issue at some stage in their lives. Dealing with the human mind and behaviour is not an exact science. It requires empathy, care and patience - as well as skill and experience.

This is why Grosvenor looks to recruit experienced agency nurses and HCAs, ideally who have worked in a range of settings - hospitals, residential homes or in the community.

Grosvenor has vacancies for all mental health specialisations - SPMH Mental Health, SPLD Learning Disabilities and SCMH Community Mental Health - as well as SCLD Community Learning Disabilities nurses.

Therapeutic relationships
Mental health illnesses can be brought on by a crisis in life such as divorce or the death of a partner. Depression is one of several conditions that are categorised as mental ill health. There are other conditions too - neuroses, psychoses, as well as psychological and personality disorders.

The therapeutic relationship between the mental health nurse or HCA, and those with mental ill health and their families is important in successful mental health nursing and care.

Helping people back to mental health is every bit as valuable and satisfying as caring for those with physical disability or illness.

Qualities and skills
Your main tool as a mental health nurse will be the strength of your personality and your communication skills.

You will need to empathise with the people with whom you are dealing, and demonstrate warmth and care for those you are helping. There is still stigma attached to mental illness. So dealing with this and helping the individuals and their families to cope is a key part of the role of a mental health nurse and HCA.

The risk of violence is sometimes associated with this branch of nursing care. One of the special skills required is to identify a build-up of tension and be able to defuse it.

Diverse settings
Most mentally ill people are cared for in the community, and not in hospital.

As an agency nurse you may be based in a community health care centre, day hospital and outpatients department or specialist unit. Grosvenor will seek to place you in a setting that matches your experience and preferences.

As a nurse or HCA working in mental healthcare you will usually work as part of a team which includes general, psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, arts therapists and others.

Grosvenor has positions in all regions and areas: London, Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds - as well as Glasgow, Birmingham, Bradford, Sheffield and Belfast.

Grosvenor offers a range of training courses to support the work of nurses and HCAs:-
.         Health and Safety
.         Fire Safety
.         COSHH
.         RIDDOR
.         Handling Violence & Aggression and Complaint Handling
.         Lone Worker
.         Infection Control
.         SOVA and SOCA Level 2
.         Information Governance
.         Epilepsy

www.grosvenor-nursing.co.uk

Contact Number: 0871 873 3341

Email: info@grosvenor-nursing.co.uk

Sutton Head Office
Group House,
92 - 96 Lind Road,
Sutton,
Surrey,
SM1 4PL

Meeting Standards for Nursing & Care Agencies: New CQC Report

A24 Group nursing and care agencies, which includes Grosvenor Nursing, are registered with the UK's Care Quality Commission. They are regularly inspected to ensure they meet the National Minimum Standards for nursing and domiciliary care agencies.

These external checks complement our own program of internal reviews and audits that help ensure all our nursing agencies are operating to the very highest levels of care. To find out more about the CQC's inspection of A24 Group, you can see the latest report here on the provision of care to people in their own homes - or visit the Care Quality Commission website.

The new report inspected service provision in the following key areas:

1. Care and welfare of people who use services
People should get safe and appropriate care that meets their needs and supports their rights.

2. Cooperating with other providers
People should get safe and coordinated care when they move between different services.

3. Requirements relating to workers
People should be cared for by staff who are properly qualified and able to do their job.

4. Staffing
There should be enough members of staff to keep people safe and meet their health and welfare needs.

5. Assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision
The service should have quality checking systems to manage risks and assure the health, welfare and safety of people who receive care.

6. Records
People’s personal records, including medical records, should be accurate and kept safe and confidential.

For more information:

View our Contact Details

You can also visit our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter or add us on Google+