1.00-4.30pm, Wednesday 24th March 2010
Hosted by National Museums Liverpool (venue tbc)

No charge to attend

Purpose of Event
Positioned at the end of the first quarter of 2010 Year of Health and Wellbeing, at the end of another financial year and at a time when the development work and fantastic buy-in to 2010 is translating into an exciting collaborative programme, this is a time of transition of ideas into reality.

The reality of projects set against development of new partnership structures and policies for health and wellbeing which give the City and the City/Region a clear opportunity to make significant progress in collectively tackling the health inequalities we face.

So this event will act as a milestone, to reflect on progress over the last few years, in particular in terms of the recommendations made at the successful Big Conversation event in 2008, and to look forward in terms of aspirations for the next period of planning and development work.

The title Comissioning Culture s about exploring the way in which commissioning practice is developing a culture with partnership-working at its heart, as well as raising awareness of cultural projects which have the potential to deliver on health and wellbeing outcomes in the longer-term.

Building on the creative engagement process for 2010 and the small-scale conversation with Commissioners during Living Sketchbook, the purpose of this event is:

• to share good practice of work in development through 2010 and beyond
• to share understanding of commissioning process and to continue to build a common language
• to look at collaborative opportunities in research and evaluation
  Progress

Dovetailing with the Health and Wellbeing strand of the Creative Communities Programme of Liverpool 08, Liverpool PCT invested in a portfolio of projects in 2009.

A loose-leaf publication of case studies of these projects, categorised against the six recommendations made in the recent Marmot Review of Health Inequalities will be launched at this event.

By April 2010 the Waiting programme will have renewed energy, with a new post being established at FACT. With investment from all Merseyside Local Authorities and PCT’s and Arts Council Englane, we will finally have a Merseyside Arts and Health Co-ordinator starting in Spring 2010.

The 2010 Workstreams include a focus on Singing, Dance and involve strategic collaborations with key partner organisations to deliver flagship collaborative programmes this year and beyond to continue the strong legacy from 2008 and build consensus around the key elements of what is needed for Liverpool to become a Thriving, International City in 2024.

Outline Programme
1.30pm  Year of Health and Wellbeing Context & Progress
Gideon Ben-Tovim & Andy Hull, Liverpool PCT

1.40pm  Maintaining the Open Nature of the Big Conversation
Phil Redmond (and Julie Hanna)

2.00pm  Commissioning Culture & Priorities
John Prescott & Dr Paula Grey, Liverpool PCT

2.20pm-4.00pm World Café or Format which enables case studies to be featured and explored within mixed groups of Commissioners and people from Cultural Sector

4-4.30pm  Learning Points and Going Forward

Key Stakeholders
Arts and Cultural Sector Directors, Heads of Learning and Interested Parties
PCT Directors, Commissioners, Public Health & Stakeholder Engagement Staff

NHS Partners – NHS Trusts, Directors, Arts Co-ordinators, Neighbourhood Staff working on engagement and programming of events

To book contact: pollymoseley@mac.com /    07990 518107

Do you know if your business is meeting its legal requirements for health and safety?

According to St John Ambulance*, worryingly over 15% of businesses have never carried out an assessment to determine risks within the workplace and therefore how to protect staff. The organisation has launched a new course in Liverpool and across the North West aimed at helping small to medium sized businesses understand the basic processes involved in making their workplace legally compliant.

In 2008/9 there were nearly 105,000 injuries which led to absence from work - around two fifths were caused by handling, lifting or carrying and nearly a quarter were due to tripping or slipping**.

The nation’s leading first aid and health and safety organisation is encouraging SMEs to learn how to ensure good practice and prevent workplace accidents.

The new St John Ambulance Health and safety basics course is accredited by the British Safety Council and successful completion of the course results in a BSC certificate. The course is available across the country and includes:

• Health and safety legislation 
• Overview of what a company needs to do to remain compliant 
• Overview of risk assessments and basic procedures
• Introduction to the language of health and safety
• How to stay informed of latest changes
• Ongoing support from a designated SJA health and safety expert via email

Richard Evens, Training and Marketing Director at St John Ambulance says: ‘In the last year there have been over 1100 cases of businesses being taken to court because of health and safety failings, resulting in 87% being convicted. The repercussions can be immense, not only in terms of the safety of their employees but also legally and financially.

‘Health and safety is certainly not something that should be skimped on but we realise that smaller businesses can find it daunting when faced with the prospect of dealing with risk assessments, protocols and legal obligations without having the same resources as large companies. Our Health and safety basics course will help clear up any confusion and ensure employers become proficient in this area and understand how their business can comply.’

Prices for the Health and safety basics course start at £270. The next scheduled courses in Liverpool will take place from 5-6 May and 4-5 August.

Chamber of Commerce members are entitled to a 10% discount off St John Ambulance courses in the North West. 

Call 0844 770 4800 or visit www.sja.org.uk/training

Getting The Workplace Active

The Liverpool Echo Free Swimming Lessons are offering your business the chance to get active and learn how to swim.

The programme is being delivered across Liverpool to provide opportunities for 2,000 adults in Liverpool the chance to learn to swim in 2010. They are available to anyone over the age of 11 years who can’t swim or isn’t confident in the water. That could be anyone from a complete non swimmer right through to someone who can swim but would like to learn a different stroke when swimming.

Each applicant is entitled to 6 x 1hour sessions completely free of charge and you can book on as individual or if there is a group of 16 of you in your work place then we can arrange for your own private sessions

So there’s nothing stopping your business from learning to swim, getting active and bonding as a team in their lunch hour.

For more information or to book contact Adam on 0844 892 0149 or email adam.riley@totalswimming.co.uk

We’re currently a germ carrying nation. Everyone seems to be blowing their nose, sniffling or coughing as the cold weather brings about a surge of winter illnesses.

But it isn’t just the cold virus that we need to be wary of – GPs are warning that cases of the winter vomiting bug, norovirus, are also increasing.

And, in addition to this, GPs are in the process of vaccinating those in priority groups for swine flu.

So, with extra appointments being requested for vaccinations, along with more cases of norovirus and seasonal and swine flu, patients with minor illnesses are being urged to stay away from GP surgeries to help reduce the spread of infection – and to ease the strain on resources.

Dr Michelle Drage, Chairman of the London-wide Local Medical Committees, said: “GPs are used to seeing norovirus and flu activity increase in winter and we are prepared for that.

“The only unfamiliar circumstance is the swine flu vaccinations. Adding these three things together, we can expect a pretty hectic time of it over the next couple of months.

“It does not look like being a good winter healthwise. The advice to people is to manage minor but uncomfortable illness at home and don’t rush to the doctor with the very first symptom. That will enable us to manage the people that are acutely unwell.” *

Norovirus causes a sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhoea, which normally resolves itself over 48 hours. Although it’s a nasty bug, there is no specific treatment for it, except to let the illness run its course.

Good hand hygiene and keeping surfaces clean can help to combat both swine flu and norovirus, and staying at home can help to prevent the spread of infection. 

But data suggests that cases of gastroenteritis, including bugs like norovirus, are already above the level of this time last year. In addition, figures from NHS Direct show that the proportion of calls to their advice line about symptoms of vomiting have risen to more than four per cent of all calls.

Westfield Health’s Chamber Primary Health Plan, which is available to all members of BCC-accredited and affiliated chambers, includes a GP telephone consultation benefit.

This service enables policyholders to speak to a fully qualified UK GP at a time convenient to them. The helpline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and from anywhere in the world. 

Jill Davies, Westfield Chief Executive, said: “Our GP telephone consultation service gives our policyholders the reassurance of speedy access to advice on all health issues, including flu and norovirus, whenever they need it.

“The health of our policyholders is, of course, our main priority, but the benefit of this service really is two-fold. While providing medical advice, it can also play a very important supporting role to the NHS.”

For more information about the Chamber Plan, please visit www.westfieldhealth.com/chamber call 0845 602 1629, or email businessenquiries@westfieldhealth.com

Helping You Stay Healthy At Work

The workplace can have a powerful effect on employee’s health.  Evidence shows that working in an environment where good employee health is promoted can have a dramatic impact on the health of the individual and finances of the overall business.

Health@Work is working in partnership with Liverpool Primary Care Trust to deliver information, advice and workplace health and wellbeing support to Liverpool organisations.

What can WE offer you?

This service is available to Liverpool businesses and the majority of our support is free. 

We can offer a variety of activities, resources, workshops and information packs covering all major health issues (diet, exercise, alcohol, smoking, mental health and sexual health).

What can YOU do to make YOUR workplace healthier?

There are many ways to make your workplace healthier, from updating your policies and procedures, providing information, introducing healthy food options, providing access to water and promoting exercise… the list goes on!

Benefits include:

• Improved productivity and performance
• Reduced sickness absence and additional costs
• Fewer injuries, accidents and insurance/ compensation claims
• Improved business reputation
• Increase staff retention and reduce recruitment/ training costs
• Nicer work environment
• Better mental wellbeing, reduced stress and improved employee morale
• Access to specialist support in or outside of the workplace and improved personal knowledge

Interested?

If you are interested in finding out more about this programme and how your organisation can get involved please contact Health@Work on 0151 236 6608.

Our Workplace Health Advisors will be happy to speak to you, arrange a meeting or send you a campaign information pack.

Our support is delivered with minimal disruption to your organisation and your working day.

We look forward to hearing from you!

If you would like any more information about our partners please visit their websites:

www.healthatworkcentre.org.uk

www.tasteforhealth.com

www.liverpoolpct.nhs.uk

www.healthatworkcentre.org.uk
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T | 0151 236 6608   E | info@healthatworkcentre.org.uk

Here’s a great seasonal (and healthy) offer from Chamber member Lifestyles gym:

Warm up for winter and get one week free at Lifestyles !

‘Tis the season to be healthy!

Simply download and complete a copy of the voucher from www.liverpool.gov.uk/lifestylesoffers  to get your free one week membership.

If you then decide to join before the 6th December 2009, your first two months membership will be half price in our January Sale!

Terms and Conditions Apply (These can be found on the Winter Warmer Voucher)

The Government projects that new cases could top 100,000 per day by August 2009. The disruption to local businesses could be quite discerning.

Employers need to focus on the following three areas when preparing for pandemic flu:

• Their duty to protect the health and safety of their employees;
• Dealing with high staff absence – employee sickness, people choosing to stay at home through fear, employees looking after sick children or relatives, and malingerers.
• Possible suspension of “normal working practices” and the impact of this may have on the contracts of employment.

Reverting back to the five key considerations, how can your business fulfil these requirements?

1. Prominently display notices in the workplace encouraging employees to wash hands and use tissues. It can also be as simple as ensuring soap and tissues are kept in lavatories.

2. Circulate memorandums to notify employees of the symptoms of swine flu, and provide the National Pandemic Flu Service Hotline number.

3. Consideration will need to be given to suspending the “normal practices” around return to work, sick pay and dependant leave.

While a company sickness policy may require an employee to return to work as soon as they are feeling well enough, the person suffering from pandemic flu should not return to work until certified by a doctor.

In considering whether such leave should be paid or unpaid, your discretion will come into play and whenever this discretion is exercised, you need to be mindful of favouring one employee over another, which could potentially expose your business to a claim of discrimination or breach of trust of confidence in the contract of employment.

Your business may end up having to be more generous about giving time off to employees caring for dependants than they would otherwise be.  If dependants become very seriously ill and care arrangements are hard to come by as a result of the pandemic, it would be unrealistic for employers to expect people to take the minimum entitlements.

Concerns about malingerers may also need to give way to the overriding need to prevent the spread of the disease.  If, however, you have evidence to suggest that an employee is abusing the position to their advantage and remaining off whilst not genuinely ill, then you may need to consider the disciplinary procedure against that employee.

However, we urge you to tread carefully when dealing with this matter. While, the normal course of events may lead to disciplinary action, the importance of enforcing the rules may lessen in comparison to the crisis.

We recommend that you circulate a memo with any specific adaptations to procedures and policies.  Inform staff and consult with any recognised body in the workplace (for example, Trade Unions).

4. It is also possible that healthy people might be told to stay at home to limit the spread of infection. For some employees, home working may be an option, although you should consult with the employee on whether it is viable.

5. It may be worthwhile having a contingency plan for staff and identifying key staff with interchangeable skills within other parts of the business.  However, you should review their contract of employment to ascertain whether you have the right to redeploy, albeit on a temporary basis.

For more information on protecting your business against the impact of swine flu then please contact Mark McKeating of Hill Dickinson LLP on 0151 600 8609.

Il Forno on Duke Street are once again teaming up with Enotria wines to host an exclusive evening of wine tasting accompanied by a sumptuous five course dinner created by Il Forno’s head chef, Paolo Cillo.

From the Alto Adige, through to Tuscany, Sicily, Sardinia and the Pedmont region, these wines have been specially chosen to show the diversity of the Italian grape.

Managing partner of Il Forno, Vince Margiotta, said: “This is the fourth time that Il Forno has held the wine event. Our head chef has created an extensive special five-course menu for our guests. We hope this will be as successful as the previous events”.

This fabulous event takes place on Tuesday, June 16th at 7.30pm prompt. Available for £45 per head, for a superb evening you will never forget.

For more details please visit www.ilforno.co.uk

Medicash recognise that looking after your workforce is one area which becomes more important than ever during a recession as employees become more likely to suffer the effects of stress and worry. The problem for small businesses is that the cost of healthcare for employees can be prohibitive.

Medicash cash plans represent a cost effective way for small businesses to secure the future of their workforce by addressing employee health and wellbeing. As a way of supporting the objectives of the recent SME Week Medicash has launched an exclusive offer for Liverpool Chamber of Commerce members.

Medicash are offering 12 months employee healthcare for the price of 10, and with immediate cover. Plus, organise a meeting before the end of June and you could win a VIP package for two at Liverpool FC next season!*

Medicash healthcare cash plans are designed to reduce stress and absenteeism, encourage staff retention, and improve productivity and staff morale. Plans start from as little as £1.50 per employee per week and cover the costs of everyday healthcare from visits to the dentist, optician to stays in hospital and access to stress counselling and workforce health screening.

Call Paul Gambon today on 07801 031583 to find out more and to secure your exclusive discount before the end of June.

The health and future success of your organisation depends on your people; look after them with Medicash.

www.medicash.org

* Meetings must be booked by 30 June 2009. To qualify for free cover, schemes must start by 30.09.2009. Terms and Conditions apply.