A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP between team-mates and managers is working wonders for NHS Suffolk. Thanks to their unified efforts, patient satisfaction ratings for GP and hospital services have risen and waiting times have been reduced while action is under way to deal with dementia, childhood obesity, smoking and sexual health. Employees say their work is an important part of their lives (a 75% positive score), agree that working with their teams gives them a buzz (62%) and feel that managers talk openly and honestly with them (76%, a top five score among small entries in our list). "Who am I" monthly sessions allow the organisation's 207 employees to find out more about each other and the different departments. A new management development programme provides monthly workshops on a variety of areas including recruitment and selection, and coaching skills. Employees say that their managers share important information with them (68%). New starters meet chief executive Carole Taylor-Brown at a coffee gathering during their induction. Staff see her as approachable and visible and she regularly attends staff meetings. According to our survey, employees have confidence in the leadership skills of their senior managers (64%). NHS Suffolk has set up a business improvement group consisting of representatives from each department. The group will ensure the views and ideas of employees are heard. www.suffolk.nhs.uk
