INSTITUTE NEWS
Aims and activities in focus at ‘pilot’ Branch of the Month event
The first in a new series of IHEEM ‘Branch of the month’ webinars took place on 21 January, with Branch Chair, Phil Wade, now a Business consultant at Static Systems, who recently retired as Council representative on the Branch, chairing a West Midlands Branch ‘virtual meeting’. Discussion in the hour-long meeting focused on Branch plans for both ‘virtual’ and live events, Committee members’ keenness to further strengthen and extend engagement with IHEEM members in the region, and the need for more feedback on what members would like to see from the Branch – for instance as regards the balance of ‘virtual’ and live events – in the future.
Following a brief introduction from Phil Wade, and reflecting the Institute’s pledge to provide greater support to members in both their personal and professional development, IHEEM’s Marketing & Events Manager, Melissa Glass, updated attendees on some of the new features on the IHEEM website – such as the enhanced Company Affiliate Directory, case studies, information on services provided by IHEEM’s Authorising Engineers, and details of IHEEM’s ‘Future Leaders’ programme. She particularly highlighted the new IHEEM Careers Map; this sets out the wide range of roles within both healthcare engineering and estate management – from tradesperson/craftsperson to Head of Capital Development and Director of Estates and Facilities, and includes information on the qualifications and experience needed to progress into the various roles, as well as the support on offer from IHEEM and the wider profession. While the website’s development had taken considerable work, Melissa Glass said the Head Office team would welcome feedback on other elements that members would like to see on it, and encouraged those with ideas to get in touch, via the email:
office@iheem.col.uk
‘Bespoke’ CPD system Next to speak was IHEEM’s Chief Operating Officer, Tania Davies, who discussed the new, ‘bespoke’ CPD system now accessible to those signed up via the IHEEM website. Having pointed out that from the beginning of 2020, providing evidence of ongoing CPD had become a mandatory requirement for continued Engineering Council registration, she discussed some of the ‘mechanics’ of accessing the system, and key features such as graphics which show the progress individuals are making towards particular targets that demonstrate their ongoing professional development and level of
8 Health Estate Journal March 2021 The first IHEEM Branch of the Month event produced some useful discussion.
professional skills and expertise in particular fields. Events held by IHEEM now had associated CPD codes, which those using the system could enter on their record as evidence of them having attended particular seminars and conferences, and the skills and knowledge gained.
With a number of IHEEM members also members of other professional bodies, Tania Davies explained that the 'MyIHEEM CPD' portal offers users the scope to enter information on events and activities they have participated in in association with such organisations, as well as with IHEEM. There is also a ‘Grant Reviewer access’ facility that enables users of 'MyIHEEM CPD' to allow access to chosen sections of their CPD record to others where required, for example for professional review. Further features, such as the ability to add CVs, were in development, and again, feedback on how the system can be improved would be welcome.
New Council member introduced Following the presentations from the two members of IHEEM’s Head Office, Phil Wade introduced Mark Williams, the new Council member on the West Midlands Branch, who explained that he has over 40 years’ engineering design experience, and now runs his own management and business improvement consultancy, Boardroom Knowledge, and Jessica Taylor, Business Development Manager at Interserve, a Branch Committee member. The latter highlighted some of the priorities identified in the short-to-medium term, which she said included growing the membership, further improving engagement with EFM and associated professionals in the region, and focusing on diversity and inclusion – in terms of those recruited both to the Branch and the profession. A survey undertaken by the Branch last July to gauge what members wanted to see from their Branch had, she and Phil Wade explained, mainly elicited responses from older estates professionals, and the Branch Committee is keen to widen interest in the Branch and its activities among a younger audience, as well as to encourage members to do all they can to engage with young potential entrants to the healthcare estates/ healthcare engineering profession, for instance through STEM work with schools and colleges.
Phil Wade, Chair of IHEEM’s West Midlands Branch.
Survey had helped inform plans Jess Taylor and Mark Williams said the survey had helped inform Branch plans for 2021 to further build engagement, and to combine virtual events with ‘live’ ones, as well as to make use of a range of different communication channels, including social media and podcasts. While Mark Williams felt the past 9-10
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