CONSULTANT CONNECT LIMITED

Enhanced Advice & Guidance

Enhanced Advice & Guidance allows healthcare professionals (GPs, Paramedics/hospital doctors) to access specialist advice directly from Consultants across both Physical and Mental health. Telephone, Tele-dermatology, Photo Messaging.

The service can be set up with local clinicians or be delivered using our National Consultant Network across the UK, including referral triaging.

Features

  • Telephone A&G
  • Patient Initiated Follow Up / Patient Connect
  • Referral Backlog Triage
  • National Consultant Network (out of area NHS Consultant Support)
  • Referral Management
  • Safe Clinical Photography / Photo Advice and Guidance
  • EMIS / SystemOne Electronic Record Integration
  • Telemedicine Devices (Teladoc Health)
  • Teledermatology
  • eRS Integration

Benefits

  • Real Time Reporting (including EROC data)
  • Improve Patient Care
  • Reduce Unnecessary Hospital Visits
  • Easy to Use, Secure Access from Mobiles and Browsers
  • Reduce Hospital Backlogs and Manage Referrals
  • Free up Clinical Capacity
  • Learning Opportunities across Primary and Secondary Care
  • Fast, fully managed implementations
  • Demonstrable, positive returns on investments
  • Get It Right First Time

Pricing

£60,000 a licence a year

Service documents

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at hello@consultantconnect.org.uk. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 13

Service ID

8 8 9 7 7 9 7 3 8 7 1 4 7 2 3

Contact

CONSULTANT CONNECT LIMITED Jonathan Patrick
Telephone: 01865261467
Email: hello@consultantconnect.org.uk

Service scope

Software add-on or extension
Yes, but can also be used as a standalone service
What software services is the service an extension to
Currently works with EMIS and S1 via Docman, further integrations with EMIS/S1 as well as NHS services like the eReferral Service are also available.
Cloud deployment model
Private cloud
Service constraints
There are no constraints for our service. Our solution is designed to be compatible with devices/software used by the vast majority of the population. Conflicts or issues only arise when end users are using very old or very bespoke devices or operating systems. The only issue our users have reported attributable to device/software compatibility was associated with accessing our portal through an old unsupported version of Internet Explorer and which for this reason presented a data security risk. We advised the user to move to a newer, supported version of Internet Explorer following which no further issues were experienced.
System requirements
  • Consultant Connect License required
  • Windows 7 to 11
  • Mac OSX
  • Mobile: iOS 11
  • Mobile: Android 6.0 (SDKv23)
  • Modern Browsers: Internet Explorer 11, Chrome, Firefox, Safari

User support

Email or online ticketing support
Email or online ticketing
Support response times
Acknowledgement of any questions issued through the app or via email is shared immediately.
Response times depend on the severity or urgency of the query.
For a major issue impacting patient care, we respond with a proposed resolution within 4 hours.
For a medium issue with no impact on patient care we respond with a proposed resolution within 1 day.
For a low level issue with no impact on patient care we respond with a proposed resolution within 5 days.
User can manage status and priority of support tickets
No
Phone support
Yes
Phone support availability
9 to 5 (UK time), Monday to Friday
Web chat support
Web chat
Web chat support availability
9 to 5 (UK time), Monday to Friday
Web chat support accessibility standard
WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
Web chat accessibility testing
Final testing to be completed in the current calendar year.
Onsite support
Onsite support
Support levels
Each client is appointed a dedicated Account Manager who offers ongoing engagement and support to ensure maximum benefit and support. Account Managers are proactive in obtaining client feedback and our Clinical Engagement Team is available to support queries from service users daily. Our current turnaround time for user queries is approximately 2 hours for in-app and email enquiries. Phone lines are manned 8am-8pm.

Where clients request support via online channels, Account Managers monitor progress and ensure a satisfactory resolution and act as an interface between clients and our in-house development and technical teams. Account Managers maintain ongoing communication where support is requested. They can also arrange additional support or training as required to address specific challenges faced locally.

Our Chief Product Officer oversees our support function and works closely with Account Managers to ensure a prompt and satisfactory resolution. We operate a defined prioritisation system ensuring any issues experienced which may impact patient care (Level-1) receive immediate attention to ensure any impact is minimised and systems are returned to normal operation as soon as possible.

Onsite support is not usually required, however, our team is available onsite if requested. Consultant Connects support levels are provided at no extra cost.
Support available to third parties
Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

Getting started
Sign-up is straightforward (+/- 2minute initial sign-up to the App and into an account in a web browser or no sign-up for landline), and users can immediately access support. We also provide a dedicated account manager for each client to answer day to day queries and support commissioners to maximise uptake for the benefit of patients.
Use of our system is intuitive - no formal training is required, however videos/guidance documents are available on our website and our Clinical Engagement Team provides demonstrations of the functionalities during mobilisation and are available over the phone for support between 8am and 8pm, with additional coverage out-of-hours.
Training is delivered either remotely or onsite depending on client requirements and we can undertake as many training visits as required to ensure users are maximising our solution.
We also provide a targeted user handbook aimed at either primary care users making queries or secondary care consultants who are providing the advice and guidance.
In addition, we share FAQ sheets and the Clinical Engagement Team publish regular newsletters and updates to keep users informed regarding any enhancements or changes to functionality.
Service documentation
Yes
Documentation formats
  • ODF
  • PDF
  • Other
Other documentation formats
  • Word
  • Excel
End-of-contract data extraction
Users are able to retrieve their call/photo/message 'records' (which include information such as who sent the communication, who received it, what the specialism was, when it happened, etc.) by downloading a CSV or XLSX spreadsheet which can then be imported into their records system. Users can also download their calls on our dashboard.
End-of-contract process
The Consultant Connect Telephone Advice & Guidance service is a switch-on, switch-off service and handover processes are established and support seamless service transition.
Specific processes at the conclusion of any contract are guided by commissioners. Client Account Managers establish requirements and develop a handover plan. Requirements are usually minimal and are guided by the relevant Data Protection and Information Governance legislation and regulation and contract requirements agreed addressing what we can legally share.
Once requirements are confirmed and agreed, we are proactive in engaging with clients (and potential new providers) for the benefit of patients. We provide TUPE information if required, though this is rare, and provide service information where this is not commercially sensitive or restricted by the Data Protection Act 2018 such as Practice/Trust/department IDs to ensure service continuity.
Once all pertinent information has been shared we schedule a contract debrief to finalise any other handover requirements and discuss contract performance and reasons for the contract concluding. We record and analyse the information/feedback as part of our quality management regime to establish if Consultant Connect could have done anything differently to have retained the contract.
There are no additional costs incurred at the conclusion of a contract.

Using the service

Web browser interface
Yes
Supported browsers
  • Internet Explorer 11
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari
Application to install
Yes
Compatible operating systems
  • Android
  • IOS
  • MacOS
  • Windows
Designed for use on mobile devices
Yes
Differences between the mobile and desktop service
Some services are only available on either iOS and Android OR web portal, but only where sensible - e.g. PhotoSAF images can only be captured on a mobile device, as they are guaranteed to have a camera.
Alternatively users can upload Patient-captured images directly to our portal via a browser.

We do this to ensure users upload photos in an IG secure way rather than storing photos directly on their computer.
Service interface
Yes
User support accessibility
WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
Description of service interface
Consultant Connect is configurable through a service interface which is intuitive and easy-to-use ensuring accessibility for all users. Users access a home page from where they can navigate to any area of the solution to, for example, review usage or make an in-app call to a consultant.

Clients can assign administrative users (e.g. GPs, medical secretaries, practice managers) and give them control of:

Rota Management
Reporting
Pathway Management
User Management
Service Set Up

Managers can also configure and generate reports to monitor performance and support internal reporting on outcomes.
Accessibility standards
WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
Accessibility testing
As a solution aimed at healthcare professionals, our service is not generally used by individuals who use assistive technology however, User Accessibility testing is still undertaken with the needs of individuals who might experience access issues in mind. Initial builds acknowledge accessibility as a priority and we ensure minimum standards are built in such as using colour contrast of at least 4.5:1 wherever possible.

User testing asks testers to review the solution using criteria including, but not limited to:

- Navigation elements are consistent throughout the site
- Form fields have accurate labels
- Headings are used in logical order

Where issues are identified, these are fed back to the development team, addressed and a new round of testing takes place. It is Consultant Connect policy to ensure accessibility issues are acknowledged and addressed prior to releasing any new updates or enhancements.
API
Yes
What users can and can't do using the API
Consultant Connect have an assurance process that companie have to complete. We check the reasoning behind access to the API before approval.
API keys are provided so they can authenticate with our service, and then talk to our different web hooks - e.g. for messaging.

In this example, a user will be able to create a new message, look up a message ID, add a comment to a message, add an attachment etc.
API documentation
Yes
API documentation formats
Open API (also known as Swagger)
API sandbox or test environment
Yes
Customisation available
Yes
Description of customisation
Customers can customise a range of features on the Consultant Connect service depending on their role. Access by users (whether provider, requester or managerial) to the system is subject to role-based access controls with available roles as follows:
- User (Default) – access only to data which the user themselves generates and functionality relevant to their role
- Admin User – access to statistical data for their organisation (eg a GP practice or a hospital) – this access level is provided only on receipt of appropriate written authorisation
- PID User – access to Patient Identifiable Data (PID) for their organisation (eg a GP practice or a hospital) – this access level is provided only on receipt of appropriate written authorisation

The Consultant Connect system provides for users to have unique login and password combinations so that they are individually identifiable.

Examples include of what can be customised include:

Application settings
User roles, access and format
Pathways - type of pathway, localised access etc.
Method of communication

Managers can customise features of our service subject to written approval and customisation takes place through the web portal.

Scaling

Independence of resources
The online system is resilient and fully scalable and cannot be impacted by sudden increases in demand. We have carefully managed our growth and infrastructure to ensure resilience and capacity is significantly above the maximum usage we have modelled. Usage is constantly monitored by our account management team.

Furthermore we have put in place a National Consultant Network to help support fluctuations in demand for our services.

Analytics

Service usage metrics
Yes
Metrics types
We provide real time dashboards and regular reports that cover a vast range of service metrics not limited to call/message/photo usage, answer rates, and granular information about outcomes and %'s. Outcome and quality metrics underline the effectiveness of our service recording the number of hospital visits avoided.
Reporting systems are flexible and can be controlled by users to generate bespoke reports which, for example, detail usage at practice or clinician level.
We also undertake National Consultant Network reporting, and there are monthly reports generated at the beginning of each month detailing usage, call frequency, call duration and much more.
Reporting types
  • Real-time dashboards
  • Regular reports
  • Reports on request

Resellers

Supplier type
Not a reseller

Staff security

Staff security clearance
Other security clearance
Government security clearance
None

Asset protection

Knowledge of data storage and processing locations
Yes
Data storage and processing locations
United Kingdom
User control over data storage and processing locations
No
Datacentre security standards
Managed by a third party
Penetration testing frequency
At least once a year
Penetration testing approach
‘IT Health Check’ performed by a CHECK service provider
Protecting data at rest
Encryption of all physical media
Data sanitisation process
Yes
Data sanitisation type
Deleted data can’t be directly accessed
Equipment disposal approach
In-house destruction process

Data importing and exporting

Data export approach
Users can export their data by running the appropriate report on our web portal (including what team they need to see data for and the date ranges), then clicking "export" and selecting either CSV or XLSX.
Data export formats
  • CSV
  • Other
Other data export formats
XLXS
Data import formats
CSV

Data-in-transit protection

Data protection between buyer and supplier networks
  • Private network or public sector network
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
Data protection within supplier network
TLS (version 1.2 or above)

Availability and resilience

Guaranteed availability
Consultant Connect has maintained a service uptime of over 99.9% since inception in 2015. In the event that the percentage falls under 90% on a project in any period of 12 months for reasons within Consultant Connect’s control, the customer will be entitled to a refund of a proportion of their fees as agreed in the circumstances.
Approach to resilience
The Consultant Connect service is cloud based and uses Secure Virtual Private Clouds provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), both of which are on the Gov.UK Digital Marketplace. AWS is the primary cloud and houses all data for operational purposes across multiple data centres, thereby providing a natural backup. GCP is a secondary cloud and stands as a ‘fail-safe’ backup. All data is held within the UK and both services engaged are ISO 27001 accredited.

The data at AWS and GCP is highly information governed and fully encrypted as follows:
• Data-in-transit is controlled via username and password combinations (with ~238 bits of entropy) with all data transfer between servers employing strong cryptography (TLS 1.2 with TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_128_GCM_SHA256).
• Data-at-rest is encrypted with AES-256, with each file using a unique key and keys stored encrypted (also using AES-256) via a master key. The master keys are regularly rotated.

The Consultant Connect system/app has been developed in accordance with Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Standards and we are Cyber Essentials Plus certificated.
Outage reporting
We undertake ongoing monitoring of our service and reporting any outages is undertaken via alerts on the App or web browser application and via automated email alerts to all clients. If appropriate, we also announce issues via social media channels and on our website.
Alerts on the App and browser take the form of a window overlaying the main functionality to ensure users are aware.
Account managers also undertake proactive communication with clients via phone and additional emails to provide updates on progress to repair and resolve any issues and resume services.

Identity and authentication

User authentication needed
Yes
User authentication
  • 2-factor authentication
  • Username or password
Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels
Users must explicitly be granted access - this is done by approved internal Consultant Connect administrators for specific organisations, and requires that the user prove they have permission to access sensitive information.
Access restriction testing frequency
At least every 6 months
Management access authentication
Username or password

Audit information for users

Access to user activity audit information
Users have access to real-time audit information
How long user audit data is stored for
User-defined
Access to supplier activity audit information
Users have access to real-time audit information
How long supplier audit data is stored for
User-defined
How long system logs are stored for
At least 12 months

Standards and certifications

ISO/IEC 27001 certification
No
ISO 28000:2007 certification
No
CSA STAR certification
No
PCI certification
No
Cyber essentials
Yes
Cyber essentials plus
Yes
Other security certifications
Yes
Any other security certifications
  • Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC)
  • DCB0129 Clinical Risk Management
  • All systems hosted at ISO 27001 and 27018 certified datacentres
  • NHS DSPT (Organisation Data Services Code: 8JC53)

Security governance

Named board-level person responsible for service security
Yes
Security governance certified
Yes
Security governance standards
Other
Other security governance standards
• Cyber Essentials Plus (certified 02/03/2022)
• Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC)
• DCB0129 Clinical Risk Management
• All systems are hosted at ISO 27001, 27018 and 9001 certified datacentres
• NHS DSPT (Organisation Data Services Code: 8JC53)
Information security policies and processes
Our Head of Governance, Roger Tweedale, reviews policies/procedures annually, and more often should issues/concerns arise. Policies include:
- Information Governance Policy
- Incidents Complaints and Feedback Policy
- Privacy Policy
- Business Continuity Policy
All policies align with legislative/regulatory requirements (e.g. GDPR, DPA 2018).
We are registered with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) and staff are required to report any breaches or suspected breaches immediately to our Head of Governance, in line with the Incidents Complaints and Feedback Policy who then undertakes the appropriate action e.g. reporting to the ICO, clients or other stakeholders.
All staff review the Information Governance Policy upon recruitment and complete a 3-yearly IG Training Module with an 80% pass rate requirement recorded in a Training Planner. Training is comprehensive and addresses, for example, use of regularly updated complex passwords, locking screens and minimising use of paper documentation.
The HR Team track adherence to the Training Planner using the Credentially System (100% compliance). All staff sign comprehensive Confidentiality Agreements.
Systems are protected by next generation firewalls, and we use current antimalware/antispyware/antivirus software.
Strict processes govern data transfer; we use AES 256 end-to-end encryption to ensure security and agree robust information sharing agreements with clients.

Operational security

Configuration and change management standard
Conforms to a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v3.0 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
Configuration and change management approach
Approved changes are entered into our Change Management Log and prioritised jointly by the CEO/CIO.

Developments are prioritised with work allocated to a Project Lead and Tech Teams, at a fortnightly ‘Sprint’ meeting.

Designs are reviewed by the Clinical Safety Officer to ensure relevant risks are being addressed.

All aspects of the system builds/changes are tracked using GitHub software and subject to ongoing testing.

Several further checks are undertaken on completion:
Coding check
Check against functional/user/governance requirements

Once final checks have been signed off we perform a final round of user testing on all key platforms and perform ongoing monitoring.
Vulnerability management type
Conforms to a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v3.0 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
Vulnerability management approach
We operate a risk scoring system which uses a RAG system to prioritise risks and develop mitigating actions to address these. Our Information Governance Officer gains information about potential threats monitoring sector publications and Cyberis advise us on emerging threats and undertake annual penetration testing.
Our systems are protected by current antimalware, antispyware and antivirus software and up to date firewalls.
Where weaknesses are identified, our development team can deploy patches within timescales dependent on the issue. This can be between 2hrs and 24hrs depending on the scale and scope of the required fix.
Protective monitoring type
Conforms to a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v3.0 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
Protective monitoring approach
Cyberis undertake annual penetration testing: scope includes OWASP Top-10 (last tested 30/09/2021: no major issues identified).

We automatically monitor our systems and developers receive push alerts if there are issues/problems. We undertake weekly/monthly reviews of different metrics to ensure a robust infrastructure. Systems are protected by current antimalware/antispyware/antivirus software and up-to-date firewalls and are monitored daily by development teams.

We automate our deployments including health checks, auto-scaling and automated testing to ensure we can recover immediately following an outage. Bi-annual database recovery tests ensure we can perform a database recovery quickly and minimise any impact on service delivery.
Incident management type
Conforms to a recognised standard, for example, CSA CCM v3.0 or ISO/IEC 27035:2011 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
Incident management approach
Our Incidents Complaints and Feedback Policy details our pre-defined process for incident management, reporting and escalation. We are proactive in our approach and staff are trained to report incidents to Service Leads who share details with the board and commissioners as appropriate. Users can report incidents via email, in-app messaging over the phone and in writing.
Following an incident, Service Leads develop Improvement Action Plans with SMART objectives and named individuals responsible for delivering the stated actions. Progress against plans is reported to the Governance Committee at an appropriate frequency and incident reports and updates are shared via secure email.

Secure development

Approach to secure software development best practice
Conforms to a recognised standard, but self-assessed

Public sector networks

Connection to public sector networks
Yes
Connected networks
Health and Social Care Network (HSCN)

Social Value

Fighting climate change

Fighting climate change

Consultant Connect are focussed on delivering remote services introducing significant benefits around our environmental performance including supporting clients to achieve Net Zero.

Our service delivers over 500,000 transactions annually and, on average, 66% of interactions result in patients no longer needing a trip to hospital. In addition to the reduced burden on secondary care services, greenhouse gas and harmful emissions resulting from car travel are minimised with our platform and patient engagement being entirely digital.

We monitor our environmental performance and staff receive training on minimising our/their impact on the environment in the performance of their duties and in day-to-day life.

As per our Environmental Sustainability Policy, we minimise our carbon footprint and eliminate unnecessary waste, promoting sustainable procurement (80% of goods/services procured on basis of ‘whole-life’ costs). We utilise local supply chains to minimise the environmental impact of logistics.

Home/remote working is a first option for staff, minimising carbon emissions from travel and reducing energy used for lighting/heating offices. We minimise fuel use/CO2 emissions by employing a local workforce and encourage staff to use public transport when unable to work remotely from home. We operate a cycle-to-work scheme and one of our directors regularly cycles to the office.

We have a 99% paperless office environment and implement recycling across offices and recyclable/reusable products are used where possible. Recycling bins are available at all our offices.

We work with our landlord at the Oxford Business Centre to ensure lighting is energy efficient and automatic doors and sensors ensure doors close to retain heat and lights are turned off when the office is empty.

As a digital service provider we generate very little waste however, comply with all waste disposal legislation; we comply with the WEEE directive when disposing of legacy computer/electrical equipment ensuring products are disposed of at approved sites.
Covid-19 recovery

Covid-19 recovery

Consultant Connect’s service delivery model is a perfect fit to support the recovery from the impacts of Covid-19. We provide specialist advice and guidance (A&G) and referral triage to professionals across the health landscape to reduce referrals and enable clinicians to deal with conditions at first presentation.
Our specialist support significantly improves patient outcomes whilst reducing secondary care referrals and relieving pressure. In the 12-months to February 2022, our A&G service has supported clinicians to avoid 72% of referrals following around 63,000 interactions
Where outcomes were recorded by either the primary or secondary care clinician at the NHS South East London (SEL) CCG, our service resulted in:
• 51% referrals avoided (Elective Care)
• 63% referrals avoided (Mental Health)
• 40% of patients treated out of hospital (Urgent Care)
David Reith, Director of Commissioning Strategy with SEL CCG noted:
“We had long felt the benefits of Consultant Connect, but with COVID-19 it has really come into its own! We rapidly increased the number of specialties available on the service to ensure GPs could get as much support as possible and keep patients out of hospital. The feedback we have had from Consultant teams and GPs has been overwhelmingly positive.”
In Liverpool at the height of Covid, our service ameliorated significant pressures on local services. Chris Dewhurst, Clinical Director at the Liverpool Neo-Natal Partnership confirmed: “We lost seven of our 14 consultants due to shielding or isolation, 40% of the time available for clinicians to be in hospital. The service kept us going.”
Our system supports wider learning and sharing of best practice. Through their interactions with GPs one of our consultants told CC: “In the past year I have learnt so much about the way COVID-19 presents diagnostically early on.” That learning is then applied in all future interactions undertaken.
Tackling economic inequality

Tackling economic inequality

Creating employment/training opportunities
Consultant Connect are committed to removing barriers to employment for local people from minority/under-represented groups, recruiting a diverse workforce reflecting local demographics; 5% of our team identify as being from a minority ethnic background with around 5 languages spoken across the organisation.
We appoint Consultants sustainably from the local area to ensure no negative impacts on the capacity of local health care providers. In addition, it is our policy to never use Consultants during their contracted NHS hours.
The positions we appoint to are usually highly specialised and we have a waiting list of 20 consultants across specialisms and can onboard consultants within 1-week.
CC will examine opportunities to appoint apprentices to support service delivery and anticipate these will be in administrative roles due to patient confidentiality requirements.
We invest heavily in training/development and following on from our extensive mandatory induction training covering areas not limited to safeguarding, information governance, health and safety and equality and diversity, internal training to support progression includes access to LinkedIn Learning. Furthermore, we offer Learning & Development sessions to harness career progression. Current active Learning & Development sessions include: Managing self, wellbeing at work, creating a positive workplace culture, project management, presentation skills, excel skills and running improvement projects.
Our investment in our team supports internal promotion; our Head of Communications progress from an entry-level account management position into their current role.
To support employment and training in contract areas, we source 80% of business-related goods and services using local suppliers if possible (e.g. caterers, cleaners and stationary suppliers) and urge staff to spend locally, supporting regional business growth/sustainability. Trade is prioritised with SMEs and local companies who seek to embed social value within their own organisations (e.g. tackling social problems, improving life chances, protecting the environment, etc).
Equal opportunity

Equal opportunity

Consultant Connect operate within strict Corporate Governance Guidelines and our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Corporate Equality Policy ensure the highest workplace standards, respecting the dignity of staff/partners and eliminating discrimination in line with protected characteristics as described in the Equality Act 2010.
We have developed and maintain a positive and inclusive working culture and our parent companies November 2020 CQC report confirmed: “Staff we spoke with were extremely positive about working for the service, they felt valued, supported and told us the leaders were always visible.”
We are an inclusive employer and operate a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of bullying, harassment and discrimination. We are committed to removing barriers to employment for local people from minority/under-represented groups, recruiting a diverse workforce reflecting local demographics; 5% of our team identify as being from a minority ethnic background with around 5 languages spoken across the organisation.
Our approach facilitates an anonymous recruitment process which provides equal opportunities. In doing so, candidates are selected for interview based purely on skills, experience and qualifications.
All staff receive induction and annual refresher training on Equality and Diversity, as per our equality and diversity policy, the Equality Act and the good practice recommendations of the Equality Codes of Practice.
Employees, including our Recruitment Managers, receive regularly scheduled training to assist them in identifying where their unconscious biases may impact their actions and how they can avoid possible detrimental outcomes for example, during the development of job descriptions and/or interview questions. This training is delivered in a highly effective face-to-face coaching format.
Regular supervision, 1:1s and annual two-way appraisals ensure the staff voice is heard and our managers also receive feedback on their performance to ensure they are not unconsciously discriminating in the performance of their duties.
Wellbeing

Wellbeing

The mental and physical wellbeing of staff, clients, patients and all individuals who interact with our services is a priority to Consultant Connect.
An open-door management policy, regular supervision, 1:1s and annual two-way appraisals ensure the staff voice is heard and our managers receive feedback on their performance to ensure they are not unconsciously negatively impacting the mental health of their teams.
Monthly awards and regular social events recognise people’s contributions and ensure staff feel valued. During Covid, we provided staff with free access to our mental health service and shopping vouchers to help financially during the crisis.
Wider support to ensure the physical/mental wellbeing of staff and ensure a motivated team who stay with Consultant Connect for the long-term includes staff benefits ranging from flexible working to support work-life balance, counselling services, and gym memberships take up of which has been very positive. We also signpost our teams to wider support available to improve their physical health including smoking cessation and drug & alcohol services if required.
Consultant Connect seek qualitative and quantitative feedback at team meetings, 1:1s and appraisals (qualitative) and through annual staff surveys (quantitative). In addition, during the pandemic we have investigated the use of innovative ways of measuring the physical/mental wellbeing of the workforce investigating, for example, the use of the moodbeam wristband (www.moodbeam.co.uk) with our team.
Our monitoring of the wellbeing of our staff is comprehensive, and overseen by Heather Pearcey, our head of HR who works with Line Mangers to ensure they have the skills and capacity to support their teams appropriately.
Line Managers report to the HR Manager on how they perceive their team’s wellbeing and related performance and where concerns arise, Heather is available to provide additional advice and guidance to ensure members of staff feel prioritised and looked after.

Pricing

Price
£60,000 a licence a year
Discount for educational organisations
No
Free trial available
No

Service documents

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at hello@consultantconnect.org.uk. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.