June (2024) was our first ever ‘flexible working month’ and throughout the four weeks we raised awareness of what flexible working is, looking at the benefits for colleagues at all levels, and invited managers and colleagues from across UHB to provide their views on flexible working to help us shape an organisational commitment moving forwards.

We want to:

• Make UHB the best possible place to work and we know that flexible working improves the working lives of our colleagues
• Embrace the diversity across UHB and the benefits flexible working can bring to our colleagues
• Enhance our flexible working offer for our colleagues, in order to support improvements to the culture within teams, departments and services
• We know from feedback that we have more to do to make flexible working accessible to everyone and to support managers and teams to do this.

Colleague stories

Throughout June we will be hearing from colleagues about their own experiences of working flexibly, as well as hearing from managers who have successfully incorporated flexible working. Keep an eye on our Staff Facebook Groups and on our Trust-wide and hospital-specific briefings. Find out more about these channels on our UHB Connected website.

Abby Cartwright

James Stockley

Dr James Stockley, Trainee Consultant Clinical Scientist specialising in Respiratory and Sleep Physiology, is an advocate of flexible working. His arrangement was fully supported and rapidly implemented and has allowed him to fulfil caring responsibilities outside of work. In addition, the flexible working for others in the Lung Function & Sleep Department allows the service to stay open for longer two days a week. He explains:

“I’ve adapted my shifts so that I can do the school run, both to drop off and pick up my children two days a week. I work fewer hours on those two days and make up the time with one 10-hour day, and two slightly longer days (eight to nine hours).

“This set-up is so much better for my family and I love being able to be at the school gates for my children.

“As a department, we’re really good at flexible working and it’s quite common for colleagues to do one much longer day (plus three slightly longer) and have a fourth day off. One major benefit of this is we’re able to open earlier every day and keep the service open in the evenings on two days, which is useful for many patients who also work until 5pm on weekdays.

“We’re patient-facing and have been able to make it work. I know it’s not always easy, especially if you’re a 24/7 service or are short-staffed, but I’d encourage others to think across the team for patterns that might work and actually benefit both colleagues and patients.”

Claire Beadsley

Claire Beadsley, Education Supervisor at Good Hope Hospital, is encouraging other colleagues to start a conversation about flexible working, even if it can feel daunting.

Claire explains: “I’ve worked at UHB for five and a half years now, as a desk controller for the portering department and now as the Education Centre Supervisor at Good Hope. Prior to that I worked as an Operations Manager and Team Leader in another organisation.

“I have a young family and am also part of that sandwich generation where you find yourself not only looking after your children but wanting to be there for your ageing parents too. I wanted a change at work but had always been put off applying for roles that were advertised as full time, as I just knew I wouldn’t be able to fulfil my caring responsibilities outside of work. The role I’m in now came up a while ago and I thought about applying for it but changed my mind as it was a full-time post. It then came up again and I decided I was going to go for it and see if there was an option to work flexibly.

“I’m so glad I did. I ticked ‘flexible working’ on the application form and had some really good conversations with my now manager about how we could make it work. We agreed that I’d work five days but do longer days Monday – Wednesday and shorter days on Thursdays and Fridays. I am so grateful to my manager for being so open to flexible working. On my shorter days I’m able to collect my children from school and I can also support my father with his health needs. Doing a job I love whilst still being able to be the mum and daughter I want to be means the world to me. I put even more effort into my work and am always happy to take on extra tasks, because it’s a two-way street and I want to give back too.

“So many people are afraid of going for a job because it doesn’t seem to fit the working pattern they want and need. Although sometimes it isn’t possible due to service needs and commitments, it’s always worth asking and seeing if you can get the support like I did.”

Find out more about flexible working:

If you cannot find the answer to your query on our website, then please email us.

• firstcontact@uhb.nhs.uk