2005 Our Presenting Stars and Backstage Information

• Training Revue

  In the previous year the introduction of the new training plan also flagged up the need to get feedback on a new trainee's progress from each night during their bronze training.

  A training feedback form was added to the web site where team leaders could fill in comments and progress on individuals. These could then be viewed by all who were in involved in the development of a trainee.

  Comments posted would be emailed to the manager and engineer.

• PPL Levy

  The first of the licence fees for music on computer databases is issued.

  August 2005 From this point onward, based on the amount of records on the database determined our fees.

  The database can be viewed at any time by a PPL representative.

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• Training Companion

  The companion issued the year before was gaining new appendixes as the year progressed. It was decided that the training companion should be divided into the three stages of the training plan and the parts issued as the trainee completed each section.

  At the end of the year separate bronze silver and gold sections were compiled and all future trainee's would be issued with the sections as required.

  New trainees would be issued with the bronze section along with specific pages from the opps manual which were pertinent to their new role at the station.

  When a presenter progressed to silver training, access to a copy of the silver companion would be made. The presenter was instructed to print their copy off before arriving for the one to one sessions.

  At one point in the year we had seven people at different stages of the training.

• Request Logging

  In June 2004 we started to log the amount of request and the wards which were visited.

• Request Logging

  In June 2005 details of those first year figures were displayed on the staff notice board.

• Request Logging

  The radio was only broadcasting 3 live sessions but the figures do show how important the request shows were to the patients.

2005 Year Twenty Nine Story Unfolds

2005 was a very busy year for the station management and as the year unfolded there was much to do and organise

For further information about this year:- Follow the links

• 2005 Year Twenty Nine Summary
• 2005 Web Site Move
• 2005 PJ's 25 Year Service Surprise
• 2005 Our Stars & Backstage Information
• 2005 Archive News Stories
• 2005 Staff Newsletter
• Story Of the Archive
• Radio Video Archive
• History Site Map

• PJ's 25 Years Surprise

  Whilst delivering one of his training sessions on a Thursday evening unbeknown to him David and the rest of the team had organised a surprise party where everyone descended on the studio and PJ was left gob smacked.

  2005 PJ's 25 Year Service Surprise

  This link to the web page created in the old web site captures what was said at the time.

• UCI Cinema Advert

  A trip to the local cinema in early 2005 would in the intermission allow you to see Sylvia Dungate on the big screen, as local council for voluntary services promoted itself with an advert featuring Sylvia.

  Pictures of the Tuesdays team including Sarah & Roge were taken but only Sylvia made the final advert.

• Studio Library

  May 2005

  An ongoing task is the integration of one library at Heatherwood. The old library database on the old machines is currently being modified to the same as what's on the rhapsody machines.

  The purpose of this is to have one database which you will mark-up from, using the artist search as you now do on the rhapsody machines. When you mark up the requests you will have the opportunity to create a stack on the library machine as well as listening to any item which may be recorded.

  This task involves designing a new access front end for the database as well as turning 54,000 artists names the other way round I.e. from “Richard Cliff ” to “Cliff Richard”.

  Music Library User Guide

  When this is complete you will be able to do the above without the need to be in either studio.

  A trial version was provided on the production computer and presenters were able to use, on a Saturday morning.

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• New Meters

  Staff Briefing:-

  The change to the voice recorder from the old video tapes has given us the opportunity to easily listen to what's going out to the patients. Whilst we have found some very good output there is some which is below par and we need to look at how we can raise this quality.

  A set of new VU meters of the led type are fitted to each studio at eye level in an effort to improve the quality of the sound output.

  Normal monitoring during your show will be aided with the display of the new meter at eye level, this will give you an indication of when things are too loud or too soft.

  Quality Of Sound Output

  Our quality of sound output is just as important as the composition of the show or the things we say. If we have taken time on our ward rounds to tune the patient in. We don't want them to comment on our output by saying to others the sound is up and down can't hear what they are saying or it's too loud. They switch off and encourage others not to listen.

  We need patients to be totally satisfied that we have delivered a quality of service which makes them comment on our output in a positive light and not the negative.

  The complaints about the bed head terminal might be relentless but patients will comment on our service and we will put the bed head terminal to shame as patients realize where the problems lie.

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• Patient Power Breakdown

  In early January the loss of service on the bedhead prompts the station secretary to write to the trust reps. The email details our concerns about future breakdowns and how the lack of foresight by the company is not helping to promote the service.

  A copy of the email is posted to staff along with the following guideline for staff.

  Bed Head Terminal

  Picture this scenario:- We go onto the wards meet our first patient who says yes I’d like a record played on the radio. You do your sales pitch and you say we’ll play that between 8-8.30. the patient asks how do I listen in ? And you say “ I’m not allowed to show you but it’s on that terminal above your head!!!”.

  Think about, how difficult it would be if we couldn't’t tune them in!!!!

  I sat in on a meeting with the trust and they wanted us to do that, they didn't’t want us to touch the terminals at all because of causing damage and XXX trying to claim damages. I said to them we might as well close the radio now because it would be an impossible task to collect requests without the option of not tuning them in.

  Having persuaded them we needed the option of showing the patient how to tune in, I’m deeply concerned that some presenters would take it upon themselves to do anything else, like unplugging the cords or helping to insert the cards for patients and that gets jammed or we start swapping the headsets.

  Whilst we might get away with it for the sake of the patient when the XXX rep comes round the following morning and the patient says “oh I think the man from the radio last night broke it “ We would be dead in the water if this escalates.

  We all want to do our best for the patient who is stuck in the bed totally bored but a moments lapse by you could jeopardize the whole service.

  I cannot emphasize this enough we tune the patient in, if the unit doesn't work we walk away we tell the patient to report it to the XXX rep and we do no more. The green leaflet we issue to patients details them how to tune in and is also our guideline, no other tampering with any aspect of the terminals. No matter what the circumstances.

  We all need to exercise restraint no matter how frustrating it might be.

  As the year progressed the amount of complaints received by staff about the service is relentless.

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• Opps Manual Update

  Staff Briefing:-

  Operations Manual Ofcom ETC

  In July Ofcom finally introduced their own broadcast code. The old radio authority code being ditched. The new code 90 pages in length is now available to read in the studio.

  In the light of changes made to the training companion and the addition of the music library companion. I have revised the operations manual to accommodate these new changes. In addition we have added the PPL licence info which we are bound by.

  The new look operations manual is divided into four sections four folders as:-

  Section 1 Blue Folder general Operational Rules( Held in the Production Area )

  Section 2 Red Folder Ofcom Broadcast Code And PPL requirements( Held in the Production Area )

  Section 3 Blue Folder Music Library Companion( Held in the Library )

  Section 4 Blue Folder Training Companion ( Technical and Presentation Skills )( Available to Download and Print Off )

  The advertising code will be administered by the Advertising standards authority, yet to be received. The old radio authority advert code has been removed. As we don't openly produce adverts for products etc it's unlikely we will need the new code.

  I would strongly advise that when you have a moment that you read some of the new OFCOM code. Political correctness is strongly in evidence.

  Are their any changes to our guidelines ?

  Yes The new training companion has nice new pictures and clearly identifies the training matrix for newcomers. It also includes all the checks which should be made to the equipment etc before ward rounds.

  The operations manual section 1 under ward rounds now includes guidelines on visiting side rooms on wards plus bed head issue's.

  Those currently receiving their silver training will be advised of the changes.

  All other staff should take time to be familiar with those other changes.

Welcome to our Picture board

Some captured moments of our volunteers,during this year.

Our Stars of 2005

And in the End

As 2005 drew to a close it was one of those years where time was in short supply as we spent large amounts of time training, dealing with the library conversion, and improvements being made to the web site presence.

Building the new teams from the influx of trainees proved challenging, the new training aids were improving the quality of presentation and the one to one training came into it's own.

Rhapsody suffered it's first hard disk failure this year. Whilst we weren't prepared at this stage with a backup, it prompted moves to have a backup plan and a quick swap out was made should it be required.

New additions to the Rhapsody content were well received.

Work was under way in preparation for the 30th birthday for the following June.

Radio Heatherwood was still moving forward and changes being made continued throughout the year.

P Davidson-Smith Secretary July 2011

Archive Gems

Just some extra's we found:-

• Ward Cards

  The ward cards introduced in the 1980's are removed as no longer required.

• Keypads

  New keypads added for the studio’s allow presenters to fire off the decks in wavecart without moving away from the mike.

• Studio Logging

  The past year and the studio output now being recorded on mp3 provides the opportunity to keep copies on cd.

  A full year of live programs is now committed to cd with a few exceptions.

  Program Revues

  The ease of mp3 allowed the station secretary and manager to listen to the output and revue any bad habits by presenters. Issues raised would be added to the monthly newsletter and briefed to all.

  Trainee and new broadcasting staff were under revue to monitor their progress and to provide feedback.

• Patient Feedback

  Email Requests

  Subject: I would like to send a message to My Friend/Relative in Heatherwood

  The request to be played for Erin & ward staff, and WARD B

  Request Details

  They would like a record by Kaiser chiefs and the song I predict a riot if not second choice of Abba knowing u knowing me

  To everyone on the third floor in ward room B - thanks from Kevin for looking after Kath Portsmouth and getting her back on her feet - have a great Xmas and 2006 - thanks all

  From Mr Kevin smith who is from Milton Keynes