Committee letter February 2010

Dear Colleague,

First of all we wish you a happy and healthy 2010. We are now into a new membership year which brings a few changes. There is a new option for members to be included in a networking directory which will be compiled from all willing members and distributed in April 2010 in time for the Spring study day. The directory will include names, county and contact number/email for all participating members for the purpose of networking amongst fellow professionals.

Following on from the Network Directory, the Committee are keen to encourage clinical supervision amongst members. Many of us work in isolation from other health professionals and some struggle to get professional clinical supervision to ensure good standards of practice. It is hoped that the Network Directory will facilitate opportunity for clinical supervision (those interested in providing supervision for colleagues will be highlighted in the directory). Furthermore, if individuals require financial assistance, for example travel costs, to attend clinical supervision please do not hesitate to apply to the committee. (In the first instance an email to our chair, Jane Hannaford, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

On 29^th April 2010 there is the Annual General Meeting which is to be held at the start of the Spring Study Day (9am). All members of the group are welcome to attend the AGM.

Spring Study Day, South West Water, Buckerell Lodge, Exeter, 29th April, 2010.

The morning session will cover an introduction and overview of South West Water (SWW), health surveillance specific to the requirements of the Water Industry, development of risk management and COSSH surveillance including skin within SWW by Enviroderm, presentation by Duradiamond on Well Being in Industry with reference to the Olympic Village. In the afternoon two sites visits are planned to the Laboratory and Sewage Treatment Works.  Could you please bring along your safety shoes and hard hats.  If you do not have these, don't worry, SWW will be able to kit you out.

Unfortunately numbers will have to be limited to 40 delegates so early booking is advised.  We look forward to seeing you on the day.

Plans for the Autumn Study day are well under way. The title of the day is ‘Time for a change’ and speakers already include Katie Oakley (who wrote the book on Occupational Health Nursing) and Anne Byrne (OT and specialist in functional capacity assessments). There will also be a facilitated debate on the future of OH Nursing in the South West. So put 5^th October in your diaries ready.

Finally, please consider joining the committee. The current terms of office for the executive end in April 2011 and it would be ideal to have committee members of some experience who are able to stand for election in 2011. If you are interested in finding out more please contact one of the committee.

Your committee,

Jane Hannaford, Nicky Pauncefort, Cath Wood, Fran Chappell, Anne Mealing, Siân Edwards, Heather Baynham, Bettina Critchley, Jenny Rafferty, Sue Matthews, Jackie Chapman