From Lead Rep and Branch Chair Dave Dodd
Dear UNISON Livewell members
Whilst looking forward to another busy and productive year in 2025, we would like to take a bit of time to reflect on some of the many successes we have had as a union in the past 12 months.
At the heart of what we do is supporting members, often this is when they are concerned, worried or distressed in their workplace. This year we have successfully supported dozens of members through various processes such as disciplinaries, grievances and capability hearings as well as give reassurance and advice on various other issues that have negated the need for any formal action.
We have also worked on several organisational change proposals produced by Livewell and ensured that any changes were consistent with national guidance and the law. We ensured where applicable members’ views were considered when the final draft before implementation. During one of the larger changes involving the shared skills rollout in Adult Frailty Service, reps worked with Livewell to review every job description. When staff agreed the JD was an accurate reflection of their job role, these JDs were put through the nationally agreed evaluation process to ensure staff were being paid at the correct banding.
Right now we are involved in a joint working proposal with PCC that was not being so well consulted on until Plymouth in UNISON members alerted us. You have to stay vigilant in this game.
UNISON has trained some new Health and Safety reps at Livewell who work with the organisation to identify and address issues that arise. This year we have supported many inspections and worked with the organisation to improve the workplace. One of many successes was to improve the staff rest environment at the short-term care centre. Reps worked with the organisation to identify a room in the centre for staff to take their breaks and supported their case for the room to be refurbished.
A key element of being in UNISON is active organising and campaigning, given the growing size of the current membership at Livewell, your representatives ensure your voice is heard.
Following active conversations over the last few months, members have expressed a wish that the local branch make universal access to the NHS pension for all those Livewell members in scope a priority. The wider local branch has set this campaign as one of our main priorities this year. We ask all members to support this campaign when it goes live.
UNISON, the UK’s largest union, will continue with our aims to achieve equality and fairness in the workplace and ensuring your voice is heard.
We need you
UNISON’s membership at Livewell has for several years increased and this year we again saw growth. With the added members come increased workload and as an organising union we need members to stand up to represent colleagues both in the workplace, more generally at Livewell and beyond. We have vacancies for reps to undertake casework, negotiating, health and safety, learning and development, sit on national, regional and local committees/working groups and are actively involved in raising welfare issues. Full training and mentorship will be available should you be willing to step up, please contact daviddodd@nhs.net
