Vol. 572 No. 5
144 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if all of the action plans due under benchmarking have been approved and published by the verification groups; and the details of the various action plans due and their date of publication. [23717/03]
The health service performance verification group met on 10 July. At this meeting the group reviewed the health service modernisation action plan submitted by the health service national partnership forum. The group proposed a number of amendments to the plan and sent it back to the HSNPF. The forum endorsed the revised plan on 16 July. It was published on the website of the Health Service Employers Agency at www.hsea.ie on 29 July. Recently it was laid before Houses of the Oireachtas.
The completed plans from chief executive officers of the health boards-Eastern Regional Health Authority and other relevant health service agencies, as well as the sectoral report on modernisation in the health service, are due to be completed by early November.
The full action plan is as follows:
Sustaining Progress
Health Service Performance Verification Process
Action Plan Reports by Heads of Organisations
Sustaining Progress provides for the establishment of performance verification groups in respect of each sector of the public sector to oversee the attainment of the objectives set out in the agreement. The performance verification process requires that heads of organisations within the health sector prepare and submit progress reports on the attainment of objectives set out in the action plan agreed for the sector by the national partnership forum and approved by the PVG.
Heads of organisations are required to submit such progress reports to the Health Service National Partnership Forum, which in turn is required to submit them, in addition to an overall report on the health sector, to the secretary general of the Department of Health and Children.
Assessment of verified progress is undertaken by the PVG for the sector and organisations and grades within the sector, following receipt of the reports and an assessment of progress achieved by the secretary general.
Payment of phases 2 and 3 of the pay awards of the Public Service Benchmarking Body and the general pay provisions of Sustaining Progress requires formal verification of progress. If a PVG decides, in any sector, that the making of a payment is not warranted, the relevant secretary general is required to refer the matter to the relevant national council for discussion before he/she takes a final decision.
The full text of the specific provisions of Sustaining Progress in relation to Modernisation of the Health Sector, section 23, and to Modernisation of the Public Service, section 20, and the performance verification process, section 26, is as follows at Appendix 1.
The progress report now requested is in respect of the period commencing on 1 July and should be submitted not later than 31 October. The template for reporting has been approved by the PVG for the health service and the HSNPF. It sets out relevant commitments/actions contained within the agreement and is formulated to ensure a necessary measure of uniformity in reporting formats.
The reporting format requires response to a series of questions drawn from both the health specific and broader public sector elements of Sustaining Progress. The required report is in respect of your organisation only. Elements of the agreement, which are being progressed at national level, are not included in the action plan report.
Action/Commitment 1
‘It is agreed that no form of industrial action will be either initiated or threatened while issues are being progressed through the above framework.' Framework set out in Appendix 1.
Report1.1Has there been any strike action or threatened strike action in the area covered by your board?
If yes, please specify details of trade unions and grades involved and full details of procedures followed prior to the threat of or taking of industrial action i.e. number of meetings, timeframe involved and/or third party involvement.
1.2Has there been any work to rule, threatened work to rule or ‘working under protest' in the area covered by your board? If yes, please specify details of trade unions and grades involved and details as to the issue, that is a significant work place change, which led to the threat of action or working under protest.
1.3If industrial action has taken place, please specify how the issue was progressed through the framework set out in the agreement.
1.4 Have any cases arisen where either management or trade union has refused to refer an issue in dispute to a third party via; Labour Relations Commission, Labour Court with a view to its resolution. If so, please specify.
Action/Commitment 2
It is recognised that difficulties with the implementation of agreements have caused tensions in workplace relations. Management and unions at both national and individual employment level will ensure that discussions take place in a timely fashion, negotiation teams have authority, third party referrals are processed promptly and comprehensive communication takes place with all relevant managers and union members. Both sides recognise the importance of proper training for all those participating in the negotiation process.
Report
2.1Have any local difficulties emerged in relation to local implementation of nationally negotiated agreements? If yes, please provide details.
2.2What arrangements have been made to ensure timeliness in negotiations at organisation level and devolution of authority to facilitate prompt processing of issues as required under the framework at Appendix 1?
Action/Commitment 3
The parties agree that such a new approach to industrial relations is required to complement and secure the future of the partnership approach and structures, which are at the heart of the health strategy – Quality and Fairness. This includes the commitment of both sides to the related action plan for people management and to the modernisation and change process in the health sector generally.
Report
3.1How is the partnership process in your area being utilised to improve the industrial relations interface between management and staff representatives?
3.2Has a monitoring and evaluation process been established under the auspices of the local partnership committee with a view to improving industrial relations? Please provide relevant details.
3.3 Have training and education programmes been assessed in relation to inclusion of partnership as a core way of working as provided for in the action plan for people management? Action 4.1.4.
Action/Commitment 4
The parties are committed to discussions, with a strong local focus, where appropriate, to establish how extended hours of service, such as 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., will be introduced or can best be achieved. These discussions will explore relevant issues including the scope for voluntary arrangements and flexible working. Other out of hours services may be required and in these cases the parties will discuss the appropriate grade/skill mix and other arrangements necessary.
Report
4.1Please give examples of discussions currently under way with a view to expanding hours to underpin the provision of more accessible services to the public.
4.2Please report on progress made in extending the span of hours within which normal daily working hours may be worked by staff with a view to enhancing availability of services.
Action/Commitment 5
There will be co-operation with the introduction of new skill mix initiatives on the understanding that these will be informed by the knowledge and expertise of the particular professions involved, such as nursing, health and social care.
Report
5.1Please list initiatives, which have been taken since the agreement to facilitate the optimum utilisation of professional skills through introduction of, support grades following activity analysis.
5.2Please give an assessment of benefits arising from initiatives in relation to professional development or role development, such as the introduction of clinical nurse specialists and introduction of specialist posts in therapy grades.
5.3 Please give an assessment of the level of co-operation in your board, with skill mix initiatives across all grades.
Action/Commitment 6
The parties will work energetically to develop and agree an appropriate national uniform system of performance management for the health service. This should be based on the process for the introduction of performance management detailed in the action plan for people management to help units and teams improve performance.
Report
6.1A national Performance Management scheme is currently being piloted in a number of areas. If a pilot site exists or is intended to exist within your area, please specify: the number of pilot sites in your region; the number of people involved; and the grades of staff involved.
6.2If a pilot site does not currently exist in your area, please supply details and an assessment of the level of co-operation with initiatives undertaken to increase involvement in service and operational planning.
Action/Commitment 7
Significant organisational and institutional reform is an intrinsic part of the overall health strategy agenda. The parties agree to approach these changes, as with the other issues set out above, in a spirit of co-operation with an emphasis on maximising consultation, discussion and agreement in order to secure implementation of the necessary improvements, while recognising the overall responsibility of Government to take the policy decisions involved.
Report
7.1Please provide details of any consultative arrangements proposed or undertaken in relation to organisational or institutional reform undertaken in the period commencing 1 July.
Action/Commitment 8
All public service organisations over the course of this Agreement will be required to commit publicly to service standards for their customers. Performance will be evaluated against these standards and the results published in annual reports or another appropriate format. Improvements in customer service will be a particular focus of the partnership structures going forward.
Report
8.1Please provide details of initiatives currently under way to assess patient/client satisfaction with services.
8.2Please report on the initiatives, if any, undertaken through the partnership structure to improves customer services.
Action/Commitment 9
Over the course of this agreement there will be a renewed effort to ensure that maximum value is achieved from all public expenditure in terms of defined outputs and outcomes. In particular, this will include improved financial and management information systems; better expenditure evaluation systems; stronger links between evaluation and resource allocation at all levels; identifying and developing delivery mechanisms for services and infrastructure on the basis of value-for-money, and strengthening mechanisms for ensuring accountability for performance outcomes to the Government and the Oireachtas. The parties to this agreement will co-operate fully with the modernisation and change required to ensure that these objectives are achieved
Report
9.1Since the beginning of the agreement please list initiatives in relation to: improved financial and management information systems; and evaluation and resource allocation.
Action/Commitment 10
The public service will continue to build on the significant progress which has been made in regard to policies on equality and diversity in order to promote equal opportunity in all aspects of civil and public service employment.
Report
10.1Please report on whether an equality/diversity strategy is operated in your area.
10.2Please report on any initiatives taken in relation to induction or ongoing training in equality/diversity issues e.g. utilisation of the HSEA toolkit designed to promote equality and accommodate diversity.
10.3Please give examples of any plans in relation to the mainstreaming of equality/diversity training.
Action/Commitment 11
Public service employers will implement agreed codes of practice for the employment of people with disabilities and promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities in line with the Government's 3% employment target.
Report
11.1 Please report on initiatives undertaken by your organisation to promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities, any further plans you have in this area and, finally, report on the level of employment of people with disabilities within your organisation.
Action/Commitment 12
The parties are committed to increased flexibility to ensure that public services are delivered in a manner which more closely reflects the needs of its customers. In accordance with this, teamworking and cross-functional working, all of the parties will co-operate fully with initiatives in these areas and it remains open to management to implement such initiatives in accordance with the provisions of this agreement.
Report
12.1Please list initiatives undertaken or planned, since the Agreement in relation to multi-disciplinary team working and cross-functional working. Please give some examples of services utilising a team based approach and cross-stream reporting arrangements.
Action/Commitment 13
Situations may arise where the need to respond to temporary pressures may require the employment of temporary staff or outsourcing of work. Unions will be notified in advance of initiatives of this kind.
Report
13.1If relevant, identify any measures which have been taken/ agreed to contract out elements of services due to capacity problems, problems in filling specialist vacancies. Please report on engagement with trade unions in relation to such matters.
Action/Commitment 14
Redeployment of staff may be necessary on occasion to respond to urgent work demands.
Report
14.1Please report on instances where it has been necessary to redeploy staff to respond to urgent work demands and the level of co-operation within your organisation to such measures.
Action/Commitment 15
Unions will be informed in advance of all new significant workplace-related initiatives, the reasons for them and the proposed implementation date. Subject to this, it is accepted that management have the right to implement changes in accordance with the provisions of the agreement.
Report
15.1Please report on arrangements which are being put in place or already exist to communicate significant workplace related initiatives to staff and to the trade unions which represent staff.
15.2In circumstance where such arrangements are in place, please report in relation to your assessment on the level of engagement on such issues.
15.3If instances have arisen where staff have been 'working under protest', in accordance with the provisions of framework, please confirm that the procedural arrangements, that is meeting with senior management within three working days, have been implemented
Action/Commitment 16
The parties are committed to continued training and development for all staff.
Report
16.1Please report on the measures taken in your organisation in relation to implementation of the provisions of the Action Plan for People Management on Investing in Training, Development and Education with the objective of ensuring that all staff have the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to deliver a quality health service.
