Central Sussex Hospitals Branch

Who' who

Stephanie Swaysland

Branch Chairperson

Plays an active role as part of the officer team in representing the branch and its members within UNISON and with employers.  Tasks relating to the post of chairperson include:

·                    To preside at all meetings of the branch and branch committee.

·                    To ensure that business is properly conducted

·                    To advise the Branch Officers and Branch Committee in respect of matters relating to procedure and        interpretation of rules.

Mark Sargent

Branch Secretary

Co-ordinates all of the work of the branch and acts as principal negotiator with employers in the branch area,  ensuring that appropriate representation and advice is available to members.  Ensures that the administration of the branch is carried out in accordance with the rules.  Represents the branch and its members within UNISON and with employers.  Tasks related to the post of Branch Secretary include amongst others:

·                    To convene and attend all meetings of the branch and branch committee

·                    To arrange for the minutes of meetings to be kept in a proper manner and circulated to all branch officers and stewards.

·                    To arrange for branch records to be kept in a proper manner.

·                    To co-operate with the union’s head office in keeping accurate and up to date membership records.

·                    To communicate with the members of the branch.

·                    To communicate with the union’s regional and national offices on behalf of the branch

·                    To ensure that the branch is aware of opportunities to participate in the  activities of the wider union.

·                    To support and encourage stewards in the branch on an individual and collective basis.

·                    To ensure that stewards and members are aware and take advantage of educational and training opportunities within UNISON.

·                    To ensure that appropriate publicity activities are developed and co-ordinated by the branch.

·                    To act as spokesperson for the branch when in contact with other levels of the union and external organisations.

·                    To ensure that members receive the benefits, rights and services to which they are entitled.

·                    To co-ordinate all branch negotiations and industrial relations matters.

·                    To ensure, in conjunction with the branch committee, that the branch observes the union’s rules.

Karen Sargent
Branch Treasurer
 

Tasks relating to the post of Treasurer include the management of the Branch Account and preparation for the Branch Auditors. It is also the role of the Treasurer to carry out financial decision ratified by the Branch Executive Committee.  Other tasks include:

·                    To conduct the branch’s financial business.

·                    To ensure, as far as possible, that all subscriptions collected are sent in their entirety to head office.

·                    To keep accounts in accordance with the rules.

·                    To provide reports on the financial position of the branch to the branch committee.

·                    To provide a detailed financial report for the annual branch meeting

·                    To advise the branch officers and branch committee in respect of matters relating to financial management and appropriate expenditure.

·                    To provide an audited annual return of branch income.

Nigel Heffron

Branch Vice-Chairperson

Tasks relating to the post of vice-chairperson are to preside at all meetings of the branch and branch committee in the absence of the Branch Chairperson.

Stephanie Swaysland

Equality Officer
 

Tasks relating to the post of Equality Officer include:

·                    To advise the branch officers and branch committee in respect of matters relating  to equal opportunities.

·                    To advise and support the branch officers and branch committee in respect of equal opportunities and collective bargaining issues.

·                    To advise the branch officers and branch committee on the development and monitoring of the action plan to achieve proportionality and fair representation.

·                    To advise and support the development of any branch self-organised groups on behalf of the branch committee.

·                    To advise and support the Young Members, Black Members, Disabled Members and LGBT Members Officers in carrying out their duties.

·                    To develop and promoter training opportunities for all disadvantaged members and activists within the branch.

Eve Slocombe
Education Co-ordinator
 

Tasks relating to the post of Education Co-ordinator include;

·                    To make sure all stewards and safety representatives receive induction and refresher training.

·                    To publicise the range of educational and training opportunities available to members and activists.

·                    To encourage branch members and activists to make use of the UNISON open college courses, especially “Return to learn” and “Women Work and Society”.

·                    To establish contact with the regional education officer/regional education committee.

·                    To establish a plan of training for activists and to produce an annual budget to meet its costs

·                    To keep records of what training has been undertaken and by whom within the branch.

·                    To assist in securing paid time off for training where appropriate.

Nigel Heffron
Health and Safety Officer
 

Tasks relating to the post of Health and Safety Officer include:

·                    To increase the awareness of members, safety representatives and branch officers of health and safety issues.

·                    To organise the information held by the branch on health and safety.

·                    To co-ordinate the activity of safety representatives and to organise regular meetings of safety representatives.

·                    To advise the branch committee on health and safety issues arising in the branch and to recommend policies and priorities

·                    To act  as a link between the safety representatives and other branch representatives.

·                    To ensure that health and safety issues are treated as an integral part of the work of the branch.

·                    To maintain contact with the region and regional service groups

Communications Officer
 

Tasks relating to the post of Communications Officer include:

·                    To promote UNISON’s policies and assist in providing information to members.

·                    To assist with efforts to recruit and organise members.

·                    To help support UNISON’s national and regional campaigns.

·                    To help create a positive image for the branch among members, potential members and the public.

·                    To produce newssheets or bulletins for distribution to branch members.

·                    To ensure that publicity and campaign materials are distributed to stewards, members and non-members.

·                    To monitor the local media for stories which affect the branch.

·                    To help ensure that the branch makes effective contact with the media whenever necessary.

Nigel Heffron

Membership Officer
 

Tasks relating to the post of Membership Officer include:

·                    To co-ordinate the recording and process for applications to join the Branch.

·                    To keep up to date monthly records of current Branch membership.

·                    To report back to the Executive committee issues pertaining to membership.

·                    To distribute up to date membership lists to regional convenors.

Stephanie Swaysland
International Officer
 

Tasks relating to the post of International Officer include:

·                    To co-ordinate the branch’s work on international relations.

·                    To ensure that branch members are informed of UNISON policy on international matters.

·                    To liaise where appropriate, with regional international structures.

·                    To liaise with other branch officers concerning publicity and education on international issues.

·                    To liaise with the solidarity organisations and campaigns that the branch is affiliated to.

·                    To encourage members of the branch to take action and participate in international solidarity activities organised nationally or regionally.

·                    To ensure that information on branch activity is shared at regional and national level.

·                    To seek to develop and international perspective amongst members, stewards and branch officers.

Young Members Officer
 

Should preferably be under 27.  The main role is to work with other branch officers organising young members and making sure that issues of concern to them are raised by the branch.  It is essential that UNISON is seen to include young members and we need new activists to assist in organising and recruitment. Other tasks include:

·                    To make contact with young members and non-members to encourage interest in the union.

·                    To identify young members concerns and issues.

·                    To liaise with other branch officers and the branch committee  on issues affecting young people.

·                    To co-operate with regional initiatives as required.

·                    To advise on matters associated with terms and conditions that may affect young members and potential young members.

Disabled Members Officer

Tasks relating to the post of Disabled Members Officer include, ensuring that branch officers, stewards and workplace representatives have regular up to date information about UNISON Disabled Members issues and current legislation that specifically effect employees in the group, to liaise, as appropriate, with the regional and national levels to ensure that UNISON Disabled Members support is provided effectively.

Black Members Officer

Tasks relating to the post of Black Members Officer include, ensuring that branch officers, stewards and workplace representatives have regular up to date information about UNISON Black Members issues and current legislation that specifically effect employees in the group, to liaise, as appropriate, with the regional and national levels to ensure that UNISON Black Members support is provided effectively.

LGBT Members Officer

Tasks relating to the post of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Members Officer include, ensuring that branch officers, stewards and workplace representatives have regular up to date information about UNISON LGBT issues and current legislation that specifically effect employees in the group, to liaise, as appropriate, with the regional and national levels to ensure that UNISON LGBT support is provided effectively.

Lifelong Learning Co-ordinator
 

Tasks relating to the post of Lifelong Learning Co-ordinator  include:

·                    To work closely with the branch education Co-ordinator (the same person may take on both roles).

·                    To co-ordinate the activity of learning representatives in the branch education team.

·                    To work with colleagues to recruit new learning representatives.

·                    To be closely involved in negotiating around learning with the employer.

·                    To co-ordinate and disseminate information on learning opportunities in the branch.

·                    To ensure that the work of learning representatives is fully integrated into the branch.

Marilyn Saward
Welfare Officer
 

Tasks relating to the post of welfare officer include:

·                    To ensure that branch officers, stewards and workplace representatives have regular up to date information about UNISON welfare.

·                    To ensure that members seeking welfare assistance receive a prompt, supportive and effective response.

·                    To liaise, as appropriate, with regional and national levels to ensure that UNISON welfare support is provided effectively.
 

Affiliated Political Fund Officer
 

The post of Affiliated Political Fund Officer is open for nomination for a member who must be an individual member of the Labour Party. Only those members who pay the political levy are entitled to nominate, second and vote in the election of this post.  Tasks include:

·                    To be the key contact for information about regional and national UNISON Labour Link matters.

·                    To be responsible for co-ordinating APF activities in the branch.

·                    To promote political education and policy discussions.

·                    To strengthen links with local Labour Parties by affiliating to constituencies and electing delegates to attend meetings and encourage individual membership of the Labour Party.

·                    To build campaigning work on key issues and to co-ordinate campaigns for Labour in council, general and European elections.

Steve Marshall

Retired Members Officer
 

The post of Retired Members Officer is only open to retired members and can be nominated, seconded and supported by retired members of the branch.  Tasks include:

·                    To organise meetings of branch retired members.

·                    To ensure that the regional retired members’ co-ordinator is aware of the branch retired members group.

·                    To establish links with branch stewards and employers to obtain the details of members who are about to retire.

·                    To organise the production of a retired members’ newssheet

·                    To establish links with other retirement organisations in the area.

·                    To make contact with the branch welfare secretary and liaise with him/her when the branch becomes aware that a retired member is ill or needs help.

Lynn Coulton

Margaret Homewood

Auditors

Tasks relating to the post of Auditor include:

·                    To oversee the financial records of the branch.

·                    To undertake an annual audit of the branch financial records.

·                    To report any financial irregularities to UNISON’S internal audit department.

Where no name is associated with a post it is considered vacant at time of last update