Focus Weekly: news and information edition
10 July 2026
Welcome to our new Focus Weekly bulletin, this week focusing on news and information across the Trust.
If you are looking for a specific section of the newsletter, click on the grey square in the bottom right of your screen.
What's happened this week...
- Message from Mark - 6 July 2026:
- The staff conference on Thursday was a great success, thanks to all who attended and took part. It was a great day with lots of engagement so please do encourage conversations in teams from those who represented you. You can see pictures from the day on Facebook, look out for more pictures and a round-up on Focus soon, and a summary in Monday's message.
- The Learning and Engagement Hour featured an update on the Mental Health Urgent Assessment Centre; staying well at work and a new benefit called Perkbox coming soon; and a briefing on Board visits, their purpose and the process involved.
- Temperatures are continuing to soar, with an amber heat health alert for the East Midlands until Sunday, 12 July. Make sure you check out the advice page on Focus for ways to support yourself and people being supported by our services this weekend.
News and information
Crisis text messaging service for adults open to CMHTs
As part of our crisis support offer for people in Derbyshire, the helpline team have launched a crisis text messaging service.
Initially, this service is being offered to working-age adults who are already open to our community mental health teams (CMHTs); this will allow the helpline team to review the demand for the service.
If you work in our working-age adult CMHTs, look out for more information – details are being cascaded by service managers – and then please inform your service users about this new option if they find themselves in crisis outside of CMHT working hours.
Please also remind service users to continue to follow the advice in their safety plan and to call 999 in a medical emergency or 111, select the 'mental health' option, if they need urgent mental health support.
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Campaign launched to remind staff what constitutes unlawful access of patient data
Earlier this week a new campaign was a launched to remind staff what constitutes unlawful access of patient data, the potential impacts on patients and what the consequences could be for their career.
The campaign follows several incidents of staff being dismissed from their posts after accessing the medical records of victims of high-profile crimes, including the Nottingham attacks.
NHS England has published new guidance for all NHS organisations on preventing and monitoring unauthorised access, as well as their responsibilities in investigating and reporting it.
The guidance sets out the different types of unlawful access, and makes clear that where it occurs, employers may report it to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and police – both of whom have the power to pursue a criminal prosecution – as well as to professional regulators, which can end a career.
It also provides guidance for how monitoring and regular audits can be conducted depending on the IT systems organisations have in place. For example, some newer electronic patient record systems may be able to identify unlawful access in ‘real’ time, with the capability to set up alert ‘flags’ to identify suspicious activity.
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New sickness absence policy: have you read it yet?
June’s Policy Bulletin highlighted the new Sickness Absence: Support and Care for Staff Policy. Accompanying the new policy are a set of FAQs and guides explaining what has changed and giving a colleague overview and manager overview. Please take a look as there are some important changes, including an expectation that employees must phone to report sickness – texts and emails aren’t sufficient.
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New No Excuse for Abuse campaign - co-produced with colleagues
We continue to move forward with our tackling violence and aggression work. Feedback, thoughts and ideas from colleagues means we now have a comprehensive action plan for tackling actions and behaviour that do not align with our values.
From the collaborative sessions that have taken place, which have approximately involved over 100 colleagues from services across the
Trust, we now have four pillars of focus - physical violence and verbal abuse, sexual safety, anti-racism and police and safety. Each pillar has a dedicated lead and workstream with all actions and progress sitting under our co-produced campaign of ‘No Excuse For Abuse’.
Colleagues are encouraged to attend the relevant workstream meetings to support with delivering these important action plans. You can find out more about our new approach and how to attend the meeting on our new No excuse for abuse Focus page.
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Deprivation of liberty: a new definition from the Supreme Court
On 2 June 2026, the Supreme Court handed down a judgment that brought in a new definition of deprivation of liberty (DoL). Andrew Coburn, our Assistant Director of Legal, Governance and Mental Health Legislation, has written a blog post on Focus explaining what we know right now. There is also a video at the bottom of the blog post, featuring a recording of a training session about the change. Take a look!
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Mental health helpline: update on the 0800 number switch-off
The switching-off of the Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline's 0800 number went ahead as planned on 1 July. From now on, there is just one route for residents wanting to speak to the helpline team: dial 111 and select the 'mental health' option.
It's important to stress that dialling 111 and selecting the 'mental health' option will put callers straight through to the
helpline telephone system; they will not need to speak to a DHU Healthcare 111 call handler. The message is: same service, same access, just the one number - 111.
Service users , carers and members of the public can learn more by viewing the helpline news item on our website.
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NHS staff standards and leadership and management framework
This week the new NHS College of Leadership and Management has launched the NHS leadership and management framework. This supports the Department of Health and Social Care’s publication of new NHS staff standards, including the first national staff standard on line management.
The staff standards focus on key areas that staff have said matter most, including:
- line management
- health and wellbeing
- violence prevention and reduction
- sexual safety
- tackling racism
- flexible working.
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Over 60 HEARTS Awards nominations already…
Colleagues, patients, carers and partners have submitted some wonderful nominations for this year’s HEARTS Awards.
There is just over a month left to submit and entry – but why delay? Nominate today!
Do you know an individual or team that has been truly patient focused over the last year? Or done a great job of collaborating with experts by experience, local communities or partner agencies? Or delivered projects in a way that gives best value or results in environmental improvements?
There are award categories for all of these – namely, the Patient Focus award, the Partnership and Collaboration award and the Productivity, Sustainability and Innovation award.
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Are you ready for a challenge?
Do you want to develop your leadership skills or strengthen your team? Take part in team building and real world challenges?
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has teamed up with Derbyshire Community Health Services and the Army to put on an Army Leadership Experience Day on Monday, 1 September.
This is a unique opportunity for NHS colleagues to work alongside the Army, build confidence and discover the skills that make great leaders.
The event will take place at Chetwynd Barracks, Swiney Way, Chilwell, Nottingham from 9.30am until 3pm and lunch is provided. Don't panic, no level of fitness is required because all activities are inclusive and adapted for everyone.
You'll also gain insight into Army life, values and the culture that builds strong teams as well as discovering the principles of leadership used in high- pressure environments.
Book your place today by emailing dchst.armedforces@nhs.net
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Get those creative juices flowing!
The Trust's annual art competition has been launched, and this year the theme is "A Ray of Hope".
You can use any medium: paints, pencils, crayons, inks, collage, material etc. as long as it is two dimensional, and you can create a piece as an individual or as part of a group.
Please share with your family, friends and contacts who live in Derby and Derbyshire to encourage them to enter the competition. Don't forget we welcome entries from colleagues too!
All you need to do is create your artwork, take a good quality photograph and email it to dhcft.membership@nhs.net along with a completed entry form (opens in Microsoft Word). We are keen to showcase your creativity and celebrate your achievements.
Along with your entry form, please include a short paragraph (up to 200 words) explaining how your art shows what a 'ray of hope' means to you. If you are shortlisted, this will be included with your artwork. If you are under 18 years of age, your parent or guardian must sign the entry form – this is really important.
The entry must be your original work, and you must be the artist and creator.
The competition will close for entries at midnight on Sunday 9 August 2026.
The finalists will be invited to attend the Trust’s virtual Annual Members Meeting on 30 September 2026 where the winning entries will be announced. Prizes include a certificate and artist materials.
You can find out more about how to enter on the Trust website and check out last year's entries for inspiration. Alternatively contact Denise Baxendale
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JUCD Summer Wellbeing Timetable is NOW LIVE
Summer Wellbeing Workshops - This summer, explore workshops to help you stay well in the heat and make the most of lighter days. ‘Vitamin D and Sun Safety’ and ‘Hydration for Health’ offer practical tips for safe sun exposure, steady energy and good hydration. ‘Self‑Massage - Summer Reset’ and ‘Recharge Without Going Away’ share simple ways to unwind, while ‘Introduction to Nature Connection & Forest Bathing’ and ‘Cooling the Body & Mind – Summer Workshop’ support outdoor connection, heat regulation and stress reduction.
Financial Wellbeing - This summer, strengthen your financial confidence with dedicated support. ‘Fraud Awareness with HSBC’ helps you recognise and avoid scams, while ‘Managing and Growing Your Wealth with HSBC’ offers practical guidance for planning ahead and making informed financial decisions.
Motivation - Stay motivated this summer with workshops focused on resilience and personal wellbeing. ‘Building Healthy Habits’ supports lasting routines, ‘Discipline - When Motivation Eludes You’ offers consistency strategies, and ‘Self‑Care – Making Yourself a Priority’ highlights self‑care as essential to staying well.
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The Beeches gets to the art of the matter
Two pieces of artwork from The Beeches mother and baby unit have been selected to be part of the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB) Air Arts Exhibition.
Delivered by Air Arts, the arts programme of Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity, the exhibition, titled Home, Health and Hope, explores what these three words mean in today’s world. Artists were encouraged to interpret the themes through uplifting and thought-provoking work suitable for a healthcare environment.
The Beeches mother and baby unit was among the successful applicants, submitting two creative and heartfelt pieces to the exhibition. The exhibits were lovingly created by staff and mums receiving support from the unit, and will help raise awareness of Perinatal mental health service.
Visitors can view the exhibition from now until May 2027 at Royal Derby Hospital and Queen’s Hospital, Burton, where it will reach more than 12,000 NHS staff and approximately one million patients and visitors each year.
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And finally...
Happy birthday to the NHS!
The NHS birthday was celebrated in style in Derby over the weekend.
Marking 78 years since the National Health Service was launched, colleagues and friends took part in Markeaton parkrun before the annual League of Friends Summer Fayre.
Markeaton park was a sea of blue, with many runners taking on the challenge of wearing something in NHS colours to mark the occasion, and over 600 finishers enjoying two laps of the park on a very warm and sunny morning.
The afternoon saw colleagues, their families, service users, friends and lots of four- legged friends descend on Kingsway for the League of Friends Summer Fayre.
With a bouncy castle, fancy dress competition, food stalls, live music, a raffle and a dog show, there was something for everyone.
Thanks to all who attended and donated to the League of Friends - the money will go directly to funding activities for service users.
