Working together to improve our culture
Published on 23/01/2025
Over the past 12 months, UHB colleagues have been coming together to play an active part in creating a fairer and more inclusive culture.
Through a series of meetings and engagement activities, the Wise Council has helped shape key initiatives that will improve the way it feels to work at UHB.
Most recently, the first in-person Wise Council event was held, with support from the University of Birmingham.
An afternoon was used to reflect on the successes of the past 12 months, what more there is to do, and what colleagues want to see in 2025.
The Wise Council has been encouraged and inspired to help ensure all colleagues in every area of the organisation are aware of UHB’s commitment to improving culture and how they can actively get involved.
Dawn Edwards, Catering Assistant, said: “The Wise Council is important because it gives everybody the opportunity to have a voice. I joined because I want everybody to be included, to have a voice and feel valued. I would encourage others to join so they can be part of the conversation.”
Ramesh Chelvarajah, Consultant Neurosurgeon, added: “The very important work to sustainably improve our organisation’s culture for the better is only achievable from within.
"The Wise Council is the best means for this collaborative effort, and it is hugely rewarding to work with so many like-minded friends from all corners of UHB.”
Led by the Culture and Inclusion Oversight Group, chaired by Jonathan Brotherton, Chief Executive, the Wise Council has been instrumental to the introduction of the behavioural framework and its supporting campaign, the new sexual misconduct policy, the new flexible working process and policy, and improved access to occupational health and wellbeing support.
Over the next few months, other elements of the cultural improvement programme will be introduced, including: an equality impact assessment framework and toolkit available to all colleagues; a mental health training package for the wellbeing of staff rolled out to managers; a handbook, and drop-in welcome events for all new starters.
Cathi Shovlin, Chief People Officer, said: “At the beginning of this journey we had to face up with honesty and humility to recognising that our culture was not quite what we thought it was, or what our people needed. But what we did have was a genuine commitment to rebuild on a more authentic and sincere basis with our people to achieve the change they deserved.
“Everyone impacts culture and is impacted by it, and it will take everyone to change it. We are making progress with the support of our Wise Council, for which I am grateful and incrementally we will all start to feel the movement towards the ultimate destination of the best place to work that is safe and inclusive, where through our improvement actions the expected culture emerges as inevitable.”
Following feedback from the Wise Council, the group is now reviewing and redesigning the engagement plan with regards to the culture improvement programme to allow for more opportunities and even more colleagues to get involved.
Hannah Wilson, Senior Occupational Therapist, said: “I am very passionate about implementing changes at UHB. As part of the Wise Council, our goal is for UHB to become one of the best trusts to work in.”
The Wise Council is open to all colleagues, whether they are a permanent or temporary member of staff or student, or volunteer. By joining the Wise Council, colleagues play their part in the seismic culture shift at UHB, holding the organisation to account, acting as a sounding board and adviser, as well as getting assurance that we are doing the right things and taking evidence-based action.
If you are a member of staff, student or volunteer at UHB, you can sign up to be part of the Wise Council:
