Welcome to this week’s edition of My Download – your go-to round-up of all the latest news and updates. Got something to share with colleagues? Send it our way by 5pm on Thursday: dchst.communications@nhs.net.

2025 NHS Staff Survey launching today: Your electronic survey will arrive from picker_surveys@picker.org today. Check out this short video to tell you all about it and take a look at our NHS Staff Survey page. The survey is another important opportunity for each of us to share our experiences, insights, and thoughts on how we can continue to improve as an organisation and employer - we all have a voice that counts! If you experience any issues completing your survey, please let Simon Rose know.

Don’t let the flu catch you - annual flu vaccination programme goes live next week: Protect yourself, your patients and your colleagues this winter. Get your flu vaccination as soon as you’re offered it and don’t let the flu catch you.

In England last winter flu killed around 8,000 people, but vaccination prevented an estimated 96,000 to 120,200 hospitalisations. And as healthcare workers we’re more likely to catch and spread flu to vulnerable patients. Vaccination reduces your risk and helps maintain services during winter pressures. The vaccine is safe, effective and quick to get. Most people have no side effects or just mild symptoms for a day.

Flu clinics will be all across Derbyshire from Monday 6 October and you can book here (you’ll have to be on-site/connected to the VPN).

If you have any team meetings, conferences or away days where the flu team can come and vaccinate larger groups, please let them know: DCHST.flu@nhs.net.

Neighbourhood summit to launch neighbourhood programme: The NHS Ten Year Plan aims to bring care into local communities, develop patient-centred teams and end fragmentation.

In our area we are already doing great work on integration, but we plan to build on this by running a programme for people working in this space over the next two years.

Join our free neighbourhood summit on Tuesday 21 October 9.30am - 12.30pm to find out how the programme will run, what we're aiming to achieve and how you or colleagues can be involved. This webinar is only for people working in health and social care and the voluntary sector in Derby and Derbyshire. Sign up here.

Introduction to infant feeding video for all DCHS staff: We're committed to supporting and protecting breastfeeding at DCHS and we're proud of our continued UNICEF Baby Friendly accreditation. We'd encourage all staff to watch this updated breastfeeding video (with supporting notes) and think about how you can ensure you’re supporting people who are breastfeeding.

Pension courses available from Affinity Connect: Various courses are available to colleagues free of charge from Affinity Connect, including a new partial retirement (draw down) course:

Pensions - Tuesday 11 November, 1pm - 2.30pm
Retirement - Thursday 13 November, 1pm - 3.30pm.

If you would like to book onto these sessions or have any questions, please contact Affinity Connect.

Admin forum next meeting - Wednesday 22 October 10.30am-11.30am: Hazel Lea would like to welcome our admin colleagues to attend the next admin forum on 22 October. You can use this link to join the meeting. Last month’s forum saw 100 admin attendees – if you missed it, or wish to see a re-cap, click here to view the summary.

World Mental Health Day - 10 October: World Mental Health Day is an opportunity for us all to talk about mental health and consider how, together, we can help everyone have better mental health.

Talking about mental health isn’t always easy. That’s why our training, 'Having Better Mental Health Conversations', will offer you practical tips and advice for how to open up conversations about mental health and how to respond when someone opens up about their mental health. Book your session today and learn how to make a difference.

Autumn energy-saving tips: With autumn upon us it’s a good time to focus some mental energy on top tips for better energy efficiency. We’ve come up with a list of 8 simple but effective ways to save energy and money. These are easy steps we can all take to help keep the lid on our energy costs and lighten the financial strain on us as we work hard to reduce our spending within DCHS. And you can adopt them at home too. From supplies to electricity, heating and water... what we save on resources means more money for patient care. Collectively our small, everyday actions can lead to big savings and boost our resilience. Got a smart energy-saving idea? Email it to dchst.communications@nhs.net – your tip could inspire change across DCHS.

Tip 1: Lighten the load this autumn

As the days get shorter and the lights go on earlier, it’s more important than ever to use energy wisely. Every unit we save helps ease the financial strain on the NHS and supports patient care. Tip of the week: Switch off lights in empty rooms.
One light left on overnight can cost up to £25 a year. Multiply that across the Trust, and the numbers climb fast!

Quality Conversations sessions: Click here to view and join the latest sessions.

Healthcare databases: Did you know that all staff can access the online healthcare databases to find research articles specific to a subject or condition? You can access them here.

Mary Seacole local programme Derbyshire – upcoming awareness sessions: We have arranged three awareness sessions for potential applicants, see the below for the links to book a place to attend.

Tuesday 30 September - 11.00am-11.45am, Online here

Thursday 23 October - 9.00am-9.45am, Online here

Thursday 13 November 2025 - 1.00pm-1.45pm, Online here.

University training dates (practice supervisor / practice assessor): Four universities are collaborating to provide training dates via MS Teams, for nurses who need preparation or updating for the practice supervisor or practice assessor role.

Staff are welcome to attend the session that suits them best. Click here for all the dates. Please note the University of Nottingham session on 8 December 2025 has replaced the 10 December session.

Mental health, learning disabilities and autism delivery board: See here for the latest update.

Training at Ashgate Hospice: The next 'verification of expected adult death' training will be held on 11 December and syringe driver training is on 12 January. Please see the posters here and here for more info.

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

A2B alumni event
Mary Seacole Awareness Sessions applications open soon
Project management lunch and learn
Rosalind Franklin Leadership Programme
Incident manager’s initial review and investigation training
How to be an inclusive leader
Management and leadership induction.

Read more in the latest update here or contact the leadership development team with any queries.

Click here for the new Autumn wellbeing timetable for 2025.

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.

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

Lynne Yates: Congratulations to Lynne Yates, advanced clinical practitioner, for the latest article in her diabetes specialist knowledge series appearing in the Nursing Times (15 September). Lynne outlines the pathophysiology of type 1 diabetes, its signs, symptoms and management approaches. The article highlights the importance of early recognition to prevent complications, explains tools such as the four Ts for symptom awareness and emphasises the role of tailored care in improving patient outcomes. You can read the abstract here.

Thank you Peter and Tony for 88 years’ NHS service: On Friday we said farewell to Peter West and Tony Gent who hang up their DCHS hard hats after two immensely dedicated careers with us, looking after our capital and estates functions.

Peter, DCHS head of capital and estates, and Tony his deputy, have a colossal 88 years of service between them, with Peter clocking up 49 years and Tony 39 years in the service of the NHS. The capital and estates team is a hugely valued part of DCHS, enabling frontline teams to deliver outstanding care every day. It is a complicated task with the DCHS estate being so geographically spread out and of varying ages, designs and functions. Under their watch, as well as the day-to-day challenges of keeping our buildings and sites safe and comfortable environments, Peter and Tony have headed up the team delivering some wonderful new build projects with all the multiple challenges those throw up in the course of completion. Heanor Memorial Health Centre, Newholme Health Centre and the current rebuild at Belper are just some of the fantastic legacies they leave us.

We are tremendously grateful for everything they have achieved and wish them all the very best for whatever they have planned for the next chapter of their lives.

Congratulations to the self-management facilitator team, on your successful Quality Always Gold achievement at Panel, on 24 September.

At DCHS, we celebrate community services every day.

Just over a year ago, we launched our Recognition of Staff Excellence (ROSE) and Inclusive Recognition of Inspirational Staff (IRIS) awards to celebrate the outstanding care and dedication of our staff and volunteers.

Here are some of our amazing winners alongside long service award recipients at our #DCHSTTT parties! Thank you #TeamDCHS.

#CelebratingCommunityServices

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