Page 11 - World of Irish Nursing April 2018

16 IR NEWS

Tony Fitzpatrick, INMO interim director of industrial relations, reports on current national IR issues

National ballot of PHN members

The INMO conducted a The main changes proposed Believing that this proposal such circumstances, a trans-
national ballot of public health are that the PhN will iden- is more efficient and should fer applicant should not be
nurse members on the recently tify one geographical area of speed up the process of PhNs unduly frustrated if a suitable
negotiated changes to the PhN choice. securing a transfer, the INMO approved vacancy arises.
transfer panel process, with the Panellists will receive an advised members to vote in Should the ballot be suc-
results of the ballot due as we expression of interest notifica- favour of accepting these cessful and the changes
went to press. tion solely for the geographical changes to the transfer panel. implemented, an exercise will
The changes would make the area chosen. If a post becomes Under the revised trans- be conducted to facilitate as
transfer panel more efficient vacant in that geographical fer agreement, it is built in many transfers as possible
and effective. All PhNs were area, it will be offered to the that the release of trans- with the positions left vacant
balloted as all are eligible to highest-ranking person on the ferees will be governed by being backfilled by student
apply for a transfer. geographical area panel. Circular 001/2015 and in allocation.

ID Expert Group National review of weekend working underway

– disability As reported in last month’s Court Recommendations with to amend the present essen-
network WIN, the hSe is undertaking regard to same. Furthermore, tial calls/on-call fee per case
manager posts a national review of weekend the Dublin arrangement clearly arrangement for PhNs to a
working throughout the ser-
more sustainable and suita-
outlines that PhNs will be
The INMO Intellectual Disa- vice. At a meeting in November facilitated to withdraw from ble arrangement. however,
bility expert Group continues 2017 regarding the arrange- weekend working in line with management said it had dif-
to meet monthly, with this ments in place for weekend those circulars. ficulties with elements of the
month’s discussions focused working, the INMO outlined On March 7, 2018 the INMO Dublin agreement and wishes
on disability network man- that the current fee per case met with the hSe again on this to examine the issue of clinical
ager posts. I have been in system was not fit for pur- issue, where I outlined clearly governance at the weekends.
contact with Jackie Nix who pose and significant numbers to the employer that our It was also agreed that
is taking on the role of assis- of PhNs and CRGNs were not members will refuse to work the INMO would exam-
tant national director of hR making themselves available weekends if more attractive ine, in detail, the discussion
on the Community Opera- for weekend cover. arrangements are not put in document presented at this
tions Team. Members should note that place with regard to weekend meeting and would forward
I outlined the INMO’s the 1975 and 1981 circulars do cover. The INMO has proposed its proposals to the hSe, with
difficulties with what was not require PhNs to provide that an agreement similar to supporting documentation,
happening within ID services, weekend cover – they have first the Dublin arrangement be by March 23, 2018. A further
and Ms Nix accepted that the preference but may opt out of introduced in all regions. meeting on this issue is sched-
hSe should have engaged weekend work if they so wish. At the meeting manage- uled to take place on April 11,
with the INMO at an earlier This is backed up by Labour ment indicated that it is willing 2018 at INMO hQ.
stage.
There was a discussion on
the need for recognition of Transfer of tasks for social care – NVIG site visits
the role of nursing within The National Verification The verification process is to Dublin. A number of locations
children’s disability services. Implementation Group decide on the payment of 50% had not paid the time and one
Ms Nix committed to a direct (NVIG) met on February 27, of retrospective payments, sixth due from July 1, 2017.
meeting between the INMO 2018 to review the site visit awarded by the independent This has now been corrected
WIN Vol 26 No 3 April 2018 end of March 2018. interface in services for older process must be completed 50% retrospection will also be
and the hSe on disability ser-
process regarding task shar-
in ChO 2, 3, 4, 5 and Section
chairperson. Also, before July
vices, due to take place at the
38 organisations.
ing in the medical/nursing
2018, the second verification
It is now confirmed that the
Members of the INMO ID
to establish if the final 50% of
persons and intellectual disa-
expert group will be in attend-
retrospective payment is to be
approved and that members
bilities. The process has now
ance at the RNID National
made.
will therefore receive the time
concluded. Further data was
Conference on March 22,
S i t e v i s i t s h a ve b e e n
received from local imple-
and one-sixth payment for the
2018 in Portlaoise. See next
period February 1, 2017 to July
concluded in Sligo, Cork,
mentation groups (LIGs) in
month’s WIN for an update.
1, 2017.
advance of the final meeting.
Mullingar, Kilkenny and