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Publish date: 24 October 2024
Colleagues at Chesterfield Royal Hospital have been working closely with Chesterfield College to create a programme to provide support with Maths and Digital growth – all in one.
Using the Multiply Funding (government funding for adult learners aged 19+ to improve their numeracy skills) they have built a collaborative programme to support colleagues, specifically upskilling the use of Microsoft Excel. Each programme is built with students in mind and there is a beginner and advanced cohort that will ensure each student gets an experience they find beneficial.
Aidan Page, Apprenticeship Coordinator at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, said: “My role gives me great opportunities to work with people all over the Trust at different levels. I support colleagues by giving them new and exciting opportunities to develop – this can be through apprenticeships, functional skills, internships and short courses primarily. It’s my job to maintain and enhance the opportunities staff can access.
“The creation and implementation of the Multiply programme has enhanced our working relationship with Chesterfield Royal Hospital and colleagues have been given more opportunities to develop and move into a more digital way of working.”
Following the results of the last National NHS Staff Survey, the Trust heard that some colleagues within their admin and clerical workforce would appreciate more recognition and support. To lead this work, admin colleagues from across different roles in the organisation came together and formed a working group called Admin Matters.
The Trust hosted a ‘Big Conversation’ that identified what would improve colleagues’ working lives, the communications and information they receive, and how they’d like to be recognised and what good development and career progression would look like.
One of the key points during the ‘Big Conversation’ was that colleagues wanted more opportunities to develop their skills using Microsoft applications – with Excel being the key one that a lot of people felt had more capability to support their job role.
Aidan added: “Having the opportunity to develop this course with Chesterfield College has provided colleagues with an opportunity to upskill, save time and collaborate with those around them.”
One of many colleagues who took on this training is Fliss Merrin, Audio Clinical Typist at the Trust, who has worked at the Trust since 2015. Through the Admin Matters Working Group, Fliss was encouraged to take part in the Multiply Programme and take additional training as an opportunity to progress and improve. Fliss said: “I found the course accessible, as a Neuro-diverse individual with additional learning difficulties, and I found it enhanced the knowledge I already had on Excel and gave me a confidence boost.”
A huge thank you to Chesterfield College for their support in pulling this programme together to support our colleagues.
We hope this is the first of many collaborations to come since signing the Collaboration Charter back in September. The charter joins together both the Trust and college in partnership - as anchor institutions in Chesterfield – to help each other to deliver our objectives and ultimately benefit the people we proudly serve in our local community.