Helping physios get more flexible

James Allen is the CSP’s Senior Negotiating Officer in the South West.

The CSP’s local stewards, health and safety, and equality reps are the voice in the workplace. Through them, we can understand what problems members are facing and address those.

Flexible working is something that comes up frequently both as an employment issue and in terms of health and wellbeing and injury prevention. Like many other health professions, physiotherapy is coming under increasing pressure – there’s not enough staff in most Trusts so people are spread thinner. And that can lead to a vicious cycle of burnout and people leaving. Changes like seven-day working are also having an impact on staff service and stress in the workplace.

For all these reasons it’s vital that we make it as easy and attractive as possible to recruit and retain physiotherapists and support workers in the NHS – and that’s where CSP support comes in.

Using stewards and reps as problem-solvers

One of the biggest blocks to getting a good flexible working culture can be the attitudes of middle  managers. We still hear about members getting an automatic ‘no’ to a flexible working request because of a mistaken fear that it will mean everyone in the team has to be given the same flexibility. Or of people coming up against a ‘sticky floor’ where they are told that in order to progress into senior roles they would have to take on full-time hours.

Because we have experience resolving these kinds of issues, we’re able to train and equip CSP stewards and health & safety reps as problem-solvers. As part of their training we’ll help them to think ahead and plan for what managers are going to say, and go in off the bat with a solution, which usually leads to a better outcome.

Helping Trusts to walk the talk

In many organisations, reps also provide a vital link between the front line and senior managers. Because they’re in regular dialogue with management, they can help to highlight the gap between Trust policy and what colleagues are experiencing on the ground. Boards are usually very aware of how important flexible working is to be able to recruit and retain staff – and therefore being able to do everything else they want to do! So it can be a win-win to work with unions to sort out issues early on, and help the organisation to walk the talk on flex.

Getting proactive on members’ behalf

As well as responding to members’ problems, reps will go out proactively and find out what can help to make people comfortable and happier in their roles. We know that flex is something that can help people to enjoy their work and the working environment much more, and that’s why it’s important that it’s available to everyone, not just those with caring responsibilities or other demands. We’re making the case for flex as a way to support health and wellbeing across the board so that we have a happy, sustainable physiotherapy workforce for the future.

Find your rep to #TalkAboutFlex

If you’re interested in flexible working options in physiotherapy, or having difficulties getting agreement to a flexible working request, talk to your CSP rep. And if you’re feeling inspired by all the ways that CSP stewards and reps are working to support and protect physiotherapy colleagues, why not visit our website to find out how you could get involved?

Stewards network | The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy  
Safety reps network | The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy