Welcome to the latest issue of My Download - your weekly news roundup. The deadline for contributions is Thursday at 5pm. If you have anything that needs sharing with colleagues, please don't hesitate to get in touch: dchst.communications@nhs.net.

Information governance and working from home: As school ends for the summer we wanted to remind staff about confidentiality when working at home.

Ideally personal, identifiable, confidential or sensitive information should not be kept at home. Where it must be, it must always be kept secure when not in use and out of sight of other members of the household, keeping in a folder, bag or drawer/cupboard and locking away if possible. Ensure a confidential environment for work, where conversations cannot be overheard by anyone including family members, neighbours or members of the public. Remember that using headphones only keeps one side of the conversation confidential. Also maintain the practice of locking laptops (e.g. using ctrl+alt+del) when they are not in use especially if other people are around.

If you are having difficulties or have any queries around keeping information confidential please contact your manager in the first instance or the information governance team at dchst.info.gov@nhs.net.

Laptop Wi-Fi connection: This is an important reminder to all staff to ensure that they connect their laptop to a Wi-Fi network (either at a base or at home) at least once a month so that security patches are updated.

All NHS organisations are currently at a high risk of cyber attack and patching is a key task that all staff can do to keep our information, systems and patients safe.

Once you have connected your laptop to the internet (directly through Wi-Fi or a cable, not through a SIM connection) you can double-click the icon on your desktop called ‘patch this device’ which will start the patching process. If you have any issues with the patching, or do not have the ‘patch this device’ shortcut on your desktop, please log a call with AGEM customer support helpdesk for assistance.

Important message for staff – remember that your NHSmail account must be logged in to at least once every 30 days for it to remain active: If your account becomes inactive, then the central NHSmail team will automatically delete the account if it remains unused for a further 30 days. Deletion of your accounts means that your email account and any information stored in your OneDrive account will be permanently deleted. If staff go on maternity leave, long term sick or any other long term absence, then they must either:

Ensure they log in to their accounts at least once every 30 days
Ensure their NHSmail account is marked as disabled, it can then be re-enabled within the next 18 months

Walton CDC update: Please note the opening and reception relocation are now both delayed for several weeks due to technical issues.

Updated lease car guide: Following the regular review of 'GD34 standard and salary sacrifice lease car scheme guide' a new version is now available on the DCHS intranet. Most changes are to wording to improve clarity, contact details and information related to government tax changes (such as updated benefit-in-kind tax rates). There has been one significant change in the early termination section to remove the clause which states DCHS will pay early termination fees for low emission vehicles in some circumstances.

This clause was agreed and included in previous guides as an incentive for staff to choose very-low emission or zero-emission vehicles at a time when these were not very common. However, as most vehicles leased by staff are now very-low emission or zero emission, this incentive is no longer needed and has been removed. This change will apply to all new lease vehicles ordered from 1 September. Current lease arrangements are not affected, but this change will apply to any future lease renewals or extensions.

Are you tired of paying for your daily commute to work? Our cycle-to-work provider, Halfords, is running a series of online roadshows in August to guide you through the cycle-to-work process, answer any questions you may have and provide you with all the details you need to know, including how the scheme works, how much you could save on a new bike and what the requirements are to join. Click here for more details and to get the links for the online roadshows.

June admin forum recap: If you missed the last admin forum, here’s the summary from the June meeting which saw over 130 admin colleagues dial in. The next forum takes place on MS Teams on Wednesday 20 August, 10am-11am Click here to join on the day.

Places are still available on the Deaf and Disability workshop (online): Wednesday 17 September 2025, 1pm-4pm. The aim of the course is to assist staff in breaking down barriers and creating a positive, supportive and inclusive environment. You are able to book via ESR.

Research and innovation newsletter: Click here to see the latest version of the research and innovation newsletter.

NHS England Oliver McGowan mandatory training: Here are the links to tier 1 part 2 of the NHS England Oliver McGowan mandatory training in learning disabilities and autism. The webinars last for 60 minutes and you must complete the full session for compliance to be recorded.

Launch of new annual medicines administration competency assessments – 1 August: All staff who administer medicines in DCHS are required to undertake an annual competency assessment. The medicines administration competency assessment process and paperwork has recently been fully reviewed and updated. The old assessments will be archived from 1 August and replaced with a new 2-part annual assessment. Click here for more detail.

Final uniform measuring dates – don’t miss out: There is just one week left for clinical staff to be measured and for orders to be placed for the new NHS uniform. If you haven’t been measured yet, please attend one of the final drop-in sessions listed here.

Please bring your assignment number (this is the eight-digit number in the top left-hand corner of your payslip), it is the only ID we’re allowed to use and without it we cannot place or track your order. The cut-off for all new orders and changes is 5pm on Friday 1 August. If your order is not submitted by then, you will not receive your new uniform in the February/March 2026 rollout. This is the final call – please ensure you are measured in time.

Spring 2026 apprenticeship programme intakes - clinical apprenticeships – application closing date 30 September 2025: If you wish to apply for the nursing or allied health professional apprenticeships due to start in Spring 2026, the closing date for applications is 30 September. You can only apply if your manager has confirmed support. If you wish to apply, click here. For more information contact the wider workforce team at dchst.apprenticeships@nhs.net and put ‘clinical programme’ in the subject box.

Training at Ashgate Hospice: The next 'verification of expected adult death' training will be held on 29 September; and the next syringe driver training is on 4 September. Please see the posters here and here for more info.

This week’s leaders' and managers' update spotlights:

Reciprocal mentoring
Derbyshire leader, bookings open.
Incident manager’s initial review/managers investigation training
Making sense of AI and AI tool practice
How to be an inclusive leader.

Read all about these in the latest update here, or contact the leadership development team for more information.

Wellbeing timetable: The wellbeing timetable, listing events for the rest of the summer, is available here.

Update from your wellbeing team: Take a look at the wellbeing team's latest update here. To find out more about the diverse range of wellbeing support available visit the website or contact the team: dchst.yourwellbeingteam@nhs.net.

Support Andrew Coutts in an epic cycling challenge: Andrew Coutts – one of our podiatric surgeons at Ilkeston Hospital and Swadlincote Health Centre, is about to take on the incredible London-Edinburgh-London cycling event from 3 to 8 August. To find out more about the challenge and sponsor Andrew, click here.

Congratulations to Nic Steenson from our finance team who has received her 20 years NHS long service award! Thankyou Nic for your long and loyal service.

Jobs at DCHS: Check out all the latest vacancies here.

Well done to our colleagues at North East Derbyshire Wound Clinic, who recently sustained their Quality Always Gold achievement!

Thank you and congratulations to you all.

#TeamDCHS

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