We’re heading into Spring, and there is no sign of things slowing down in primary care. Take a look back at the blogs, resources and updates we brought to you in March.

Top tips for using Holiday Manager – If you’re fed up with manually calculating holidays, juggling leave requests, and tracking other absences, it’s time you tried Holiday Manager. Not only can you manage all team absences – holiday, sickness, parental, study leave, etc. – in one place, but you can authorise requests easily, and ensure you’re meeting the statutory requirements for part-time workers. It really does it all for you. Oh, and it’s completely free!

HR Clinic – Managing Grievances (Questions and Answers) –“I want to make a complaint” is never a phrase we relish hearing, and it can be all too jarring to hear it from the mouths of our own staff. But that is essentially what a grievance is – a complaint about the working environment. So how do you as a manager deal with grievances? Should it be informal, or should it be formal? Does it link in with other HR policies you have in place?

We need help now! – By Mike Neville – After a recent report released by the Health Foundation I tweeted my concerns. A prominent GP quite rightly asked me, “what would you suggest?” My response to this question was quite simple…

Updated Gender Identity Toolkit for General Practice – Since its launch in March 2022, the Gender Identity Toolkit for General Practice, created in collaboration between LGBT Foundation Pride in Practice, Indigo Gender Service, the IGPM and Practice Index has become the definitive guidance document on providing consistent care for trans and non-binary patients in primary care, consolidating statutory requirements and best practice guidance.

Monday morning dread – By Nicola Davies – Do you suffer from Monday morning dread? Is it worse when you’ve been on leave? I bet that literally every practice manager says ‘yes’ to those two questions.

March’s podcast: The Practice Index Podcast: Episode 29 – Managing change

Best new and updated resources [PLUS]

• Armed forces reserves policy
• Business continuity policy (UPDATED)
• Business continuity policy (Wales) (UPDATED)
• Business continuity policy (Scotland) (UPDATED)
• Anti-bribery and counter fraud policy (Scotland) (UPDATED)
• Managing access and patient demand policy (UPDATED)
• Retirement acknowledgement letter
• Gender identity toolkit for general practice [FREE]
• Cervical screening programme guidance document
• Infection prevention and control policy (Wales)
• Interview pack – Lead practice nurse
• Training costs agreement (UPDATED)
• Assistance dogs and other animals policy

Popular threads

• It’s what I do… whatever that even is!
• Lone staff member allowed to work in building on own
• Admin staff v Patient ratio
• What do you do when you receive positive feedback and thank yous?
• Heb B status for staff
• Aesthetics procedures in surgery

HUB updates

Help Centre – A compilation of FAQS, useful videos, and information on our HUB products.
HUB weekly support sessions – Join one of our weekly sessions to discover more about the HUB and what it offers.

Updates:

• Compliance Package now includes H&S (Health and Safety) Alerts Manager
• Compliments Manager – file attachments enabled
• Checks Manager – choose to send email notifications for checks to individuals and/or users by job role/s
• Learning Manager – significant updates including preview function, export of mandatory course lists and profile pictures. Read more here

If you’d like to know more about Practice Index PLUS and any products in the HUB, you can book a demo here.