26 January 2021

Joanne Moore2

Following recent communications in relation to the target transfer date for staff and services to Mersey Care, we are delighted to confirm the Transaction Board has agreed the transfer date will be 1 June.

The Board is confident 1 June is achievable after discussions with NHS England/Improvement and the Care Quality Commission to confirm timelines for completion of the necessary governance processes.

Joint working groups across our Trust and Mersey Care are now progressing the required actions to enable and support a smooth transfer on 1 June.

Wigan, Bolton and Greater Manchester staff and services will continue to transfer to Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) on 1 April.

Staff consultation

As with all transactions like this, there is a legal requirement to formally consult with those staff affected. All staff will TUPE transfer to either Mersey Care or GMMH which means all staff are affected.

We are launching a 30-day consultation with all staff, starting on Monday 1 February and closing on Tuesday 2 March.

Staff side representatives are involved in the process and have been fully briefed at today’s Partnership Forum.

What happens next

  • You will receive a letter to your home address before 1 February to confirm whether you have been aligned to Mersey Care or GMMH, subject to the outcome of the consultation. If you don’t receive a letter, please email: ourfuture.consultation@nwbh.nhs.uk
  • An online, Trust-wide launch event is being held on Microsoft Teams Live on Monday 1 February at 10am (click here to join). Tracy Hill, Director of Strategy and Organisational Effectiveness, will talk through what to expect during the consultation process and outline the timeline. The presentation will be recorded and circulated for anyone who is unable to attend.
  • Online group consultation meetings will be arranged for each borough and corporate service during February. These will be led by your assistant director or head of service, together with a representative from People Services. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.
  • You will also have the opportunity to request a one-to-one consultation meeting to discuss your individual circumstances, as necessary.

We understand you will have questions and a dedicated mailbox has been set up for the consultation ourfuture.consultation@nwbh.nhs.uk. During the process, frequently asked questions will be updated regularly on StaffZone. Any individual-specific questions will be answered directly and not shared more widely.

Information relating to the staff consultation, including links to relevant online meetings and FAQs, will be uploaded to StaffZone throughout: staffzone.nwbh.nhs.uk/staff-consultation 

We know organisational change like this can cause uncertainty. There is support available to you throughout the process should you need it. Please speak to your line manager in the first instance. Occupational Health can also provide support and can be contacted on 01925 664010. Alternatively, you can email: ourfuture.consultation@nwbh.nhs.uk