Welcome to our Focus Weekly bulletin, this week focusing on news, events, training and information from 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 - 28 September 2026: This week's message includes the approach to inappropriate access of patient information, a change of base for some of our community teams and an update on parking at Kingsway. You can read Mark's full message on Focus.
- A new Policy Bulletin was recently emailed to all colleagues. Remember, it is the responsibility of everybody to ensure policies are understood and implemented, so please make sure you read it on Focus
- The 2026 Staff Survey launched on Monday 14 September, and the flu vaccination clinics opened this week. Scroll down to the bottom of this issue to find out if you have won a prize in our weekly draw!
- Sharing your news: please continue to submit your news on Focus. You can also post on the closed staff Facebook group - visit Facebook to join up.
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News, events, training and information
Get your flu vaccination this winter
Flu vaccination clinics are now running! Having a flu vaccine will not only protect you, but it will help keep our colleagues and communities safe, including our most vulnerable service users.
You can book an appointment using the following booking link . For the first two weeks of October bookable appointments will be available at the Derwent Unit, Ashbourne Centre at Kingsway and Kingsway House. Following this, bookable
and walk-in appointments will be available via our Peer Vaccinators across the county. Please look out for more information in the coming weeks.
Remember, everyone who has the flu vaccine has the chance to win up to £200 in vouchers in a weekly prize draw. You can read more about the campaign on Focus.
If you choose to receive your flu vaccine elsewhere, please ensure your personal details (including your full name and address are recorded as the same with both your GP and on ESR. This will mean your vaccination can be included in the number of colleagues who are protected against flu.
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Well Led assessment update
Our Well Led assessment takes place between Tuesday 3 – Thursday 5 November 2026.
Additional resources have been added to the Well Led hub on Focus including guidance on how to approach a conversation with an inspector (and it really is a conversation, not a question-and-answer exercise) and how to provide evidence of the improvements being made.
A preparatory booklet is very nearly complete. This includes a summary of arrangements and progress we have made since our last Well Led assessment.
Arrangements are in place for AQUA to support colleagues who will be participating in a Well Led interview – if this is a requirement of your role, please look out for an invitation to attend a session soon.
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MHAC opens its doors
Our 24/7 Mental Health Urgent Assessment Centre (MHUAC) opened on Monday 28 September 2026.
The MHUAC has been developed in the former medical annex at Radbourne Unit in Derby.
The centre will support patients already
in attendance at the Emergency Department (ED) in the Royal Derby Hospital, whose mental health needs could be better supported in the MHUAC.
Referrals will be made through the Trust’s existing clinical teams, with care being provided in the new MHUAC setting. Initially our service will only take referrals from the ED at the Royal Derby Hospital.
You can find out more about the centre, including a list of FAQs, on Focus
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New senior AHP structure
Following phase one of the AHP leadership reorganisation, the attached structure has now been confirmed and appointed to.
It aligns the AHP profession to the Trust's new care group, divisional and triumvariate model that has already been
implemented for nursing, medical and operational colleagues.
Phase two will commence in the coming weeks, the outcome of this will be communicated once it has concluded.
You can see the structure on Focus.
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Share your views in the Staff Survey.
If you haven't yet completed your survey – please take five minutes to share your views. It is your feedback that lets us know which things are working well and where we can make improvements to the ways we work, to benefit our staff and patients.
A wide range of improvements were made in response to your feedback last year. Please see Focus for details on the changes made.
Remember, everyone who completes their Staff Survey has the chance to win up to £200 in vouchers in a weekly prize draw. Scroll to the bottom of the bulletin to find out how to enter and this week's winners. Plus, you could win some Amazon gift vouchers in our weekly prize draw.
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Walk and Talk for World Mental Health Day
The Trust is encouraging colleagues and accompanied patients to get out and about in the fresh air to mark World Mental Health Day this year, which is taking place on Saturday 10 October.
A series of Walk and Talk events will be held at the Kingsway Hospital site in Derby throughout the day on Friday, October 9, providing an opportunity to enjoy a walk in the fresh air and chat with
old friends and new.
It is well documented that combining fresh air and physical exercise outdoors provides powerful, science-backed benefits for your mental health and emotional wellbeing, so why not join in one of our events?
To find out more, and to register for one of the events, visit our Focus page.
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Quality Conversations sessions
Joined Up Care Derbyshire is running practical Quality Conversations sessions to help develop listening, coaching and mental health conversation skills that you can use every day with patients, colleagues, friends and family.
The two sessions will be held on Tuesday 6 October between 9.15am and 12.30pm, and Thursday 8 October between 1.15pm and 4.30pm.
You can find out more about the courses, and how to book, on Focus.
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Healthcare Support Workers complete Icare training
Congratulations to our latest cohort of Healthcare Support Workers on successfully completing the Icare Programme.
Designed specifically for newly employed
Healthcare Support Workers, the programme supports participants by combining pastoral support with training on key topics relevant to their role, building the confidence, knowledge and resilience needed to deliver safe, effective and compassionate care.
You can read more about the programme on Focus.
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Could you be a Recruitment Inclusion Guardian?
The Trust is relaunching Recruitment Inclusion Guardian (RIG) training sessions, and colleagues from across Derbyshire Healthcare are invited to get involved.
Recruitment Inclusion Guardians play an important role in supporting fair, inclusive and equitable recruitment across the Trust. They provide independent, advisory support and constructive challenge to help recruitment panels make fair, transparent and evidence- based decisions, while helping to identify and address potential bias and barriers.
The opportunity is open to staff across all services and grades who have an interest in:
- Equality, diversity and inclusion
- Fair and inclusive recruitment
- Equitable access and career progression
- Improving experiences for candidates from underrepresented groups.
Ideally, prior to undertaking the RIG training you will need to have completed the one-day Recruitment and Selection Training session on ESR, however we are mindful that current sessions are full. There would be an expectation to complete this training if you haven’t already, once further sessions become available.
If you’re interested in becoming a Recruitment Inclusion Guardian, or would like to find out more about the training, please contact: dhcft.equality@nhs.net
You can read more about the scheme on Focus.
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Free NHS Elect webinars: October to December 2026
Explore NHS Elect’s new programme of live webinars, covering topics including managing your workload, improving productivity, happier working lives, career development, building better habits, and the leadership series.
Designed around the challenges NHS colleagues are facing, each session offers practical advice and ideas you can use in your role. You’ll also hear how people across different NHS organisations are tackling similar issues through the discussions and experiences shared.
Most webinars last just one hour, making them an easy way to fit useful development into a busy working week.
As the Trust is an NHS Elect member, all of these webinars are included in our membership, so there is no additional cost for you or your team to attend. Simply choose the topics that interest you and book your place.
Register soon, as places are limited.
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Wound care training and pressure ulcer care
Training is available for colleagues on wound care and pressure ulcer care.
The training will be delivered by Paul Hard, Tissue Viability Nurse, at Royal Derby Hospital via Teams on 7 October. For more details and the link to join the online course, visit Focus.
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Sharing Information with Confidence
A new page on Focus offers helpful links and guidance for staff about how to share information safely.
The purpose of the guidance is to help staff members support people who use our services to make their wishes known in a safe and timely manner.
It aims to impart a level of confidence to staff members to make careful and informed decisions regarding sharing information with carers and family members.
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And finally...
Congratulations to our winners
This week's winners of the Amazon vouchers have been announced. The winner of the £200 voucher is Charlotte Hall, while the £50 voucher winners include Lara Hardy, Carmel Anne Tonks, Amanda Rice, Victoria Swinnard, Shaminder Uppal, Emma Davenport and Jenny Sutcliffe. Congratulations everyone. Don't forget, you can get two entries if you have your flu vaccination too!
