HPMA Cymru hold annual Conference and Awards ceremony

The HPMA Cymru branch held their annual Conference and Awards ceremony on 1 March 2023 at the Swansea.com stadium, South Wales. This was the branch’s second in-person event following on from the pandemic, highlighting through the awards the incredible work that is ongoing throughout the principality with the overall theme of the day centered around developing and celebrating organisational culture within NHS Wales.

Guest speakers presented to an audience of 200 people on a wide range of topics such as diverse cultures, Welsh language and building teams that bring different viewpoints and talents which ultimately helps to increase innovation and drive higher performance.

Speakers for the conference included Non Richards, Welsh Language Services Manager, NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP) who discussed the work undertaken within NWSSP about raising Welsh Language standards across the organisation, how this was implemented, and why it was important to not only meet the Welsh Language Standards set by Welsh Government, but to create an organisational culture with Welsh integral throughout.

Non was followed by key-note speaker Noel Mooney CEO, Football Association of Wales (FAW) who demonstrated under his leadership how he changed the culture within the FAW, identifying areas for change whilst updating and instilling strong governance, wide-ranging strategies, individual and organisational development which in turn fostered a strong and focused ‘team Wales’ approach.

Noel was followed by Raja Biswas, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and Race Equality Network, and Robert Workman, Swansea Bay University Health Board and CALON Network who presented on how staff networks support organisational culture and the importance of recognising how individuals, regardless of background are intrinsic to the well-being and to the success of any organisation.

The speakers were followed by a series of well received breakout sessions which aimed to share learning from across NHS Wales and included; NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership: This is Our NWSSP – Change Programme including Values & Behaviours; Velindre University NHS Trust: Welsh Language; Cardiff and Vale University Health Board: Engagement with nursing staff and the implementation of a cultural leadership programme and; Hywel Dda University Health Board: Tackling Group Think: 5 Ways to Build Psychological Safety in your organisation.

The Awards ceremony covered 11 separate categories and were as follows:

• Cross Sector Working: Winner- James Green, NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
• Education, Learning and Development Initiative: Winner- George Shouler, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
• Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: Winner- Donna Hole and Marie-Andree Lachappelle, Swansea Bay University Health Board; Runner up- Nia Gibbon Hywel Dda University Health Board
• Excellence in Organisational Development: Winner- Public Health Wales OD & Engagement team; Highly Commended- Becky Dyer, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
• Partnership Working Between Employers and Trade Unions: Winner- Karolina Kobylnik, NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
• Rising Star: Winner- Matthew Brayford, Cardiff and the Vale University Health Board and Natasha Price, Powys Teaching Health Board
• Team of the Year: Winner- NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership People and OD Team; Runner Up- Headroom early intervention in Psychosis Service, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
• Well-being: Winner- Kerry Flower-Fitzpatrick, NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
• Innovation: Winner- Andrew Cooper, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
• Welsh Language: Winner- Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
• Workforce Analytics: Winner- Public Health Wales People Strategy, Insights and Services Team.

 

HPMA Cymru Chair Gareth Hardacre;

“Wales is a fusion of diverse cultures, and our Conference and Awards ceremony aimed to celebrate this diversity as this is what makes us great through building teams that bring different viewpoints and talents which ultimately increases innovation and drives higher performance. Our speakers clearly demonstrated the importance of this with our awards winners putting into action in terms of how this can be achieved.”

“This year’s calibre of awards was exceptionally high, and it was evident that the high quality of work within our region should be celebrated on a national level. Many congratulations to all winners, runners up, highly commended and thank you to every colleague who submitted nominations.”

“The event would not have been possible without all of the Health Boards and association health bodies in Wales who have supported HPMA Cymru and additionally without the assistance of our sponsors, including our main sponsors, ACT. I am also very thankful for all of those who have been involved in the organising and planning of the conference and awards.”