Agenda item

Presentation by the Chief Executive, Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust

The Chief Executive, Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust submitted a presentation (previously circulated) updating Members on the Clinical Journey and Quality Journey of the Trust. The Chair, Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust introduced the presentation.

The presentation outlined the key achievements and progress made to date by the Trust; particular reference was made to improved operational oversight as demonstrated in the recent CAMHS CQC inspection report and the significant increase in compliance for statutory and mandatory training and workforce growth of 10 per cent; a number of challenges remained and responses to the challenges included listening to feedback and engaging with people and strengthening governance and assurance.

Details were provided of the five themes of the Journey to Change and the ambitions and principles of the clinical journey were outlined; reference was also made to how the Trust would deliver on its ambitions, including developing Community Mental Health hubs, personalising care plans and enabling digital transformation.

Following a question regarding the increase in the Trusts workforce by 700 staff, Members were informed that the roles appointed to were across a range of service areas, that 65 new nurses were due to commence working with the Trust in September and an apprenticeship pathway enabled support workers to train to become a Registered Nurse over a five year period; and the Trust were working with partners to provide a range of different pathways for staff recruitment and development.

A question was raised regarding cyber threats; Members were assured that business continuity plans were in place to avoid cyber-attacks and there had been significant investment in this area. Members also questioned the progress of digital transformation work and accessibility of patient records and were informed that work was ongoing to provide digital access for those patients that attend digital appointments and that access to the electronic patient records was being improved to ensure GP’s and hospitals had access to the appropriate information.

Discussion ensued regarding the recent CQC inspection report for CAMHS; Members were assured that in terms of statutory and mandatory training, the targets for safeguarding training were being met and the Trust were working through a training backlog which came as a result of covid. Members requested copy of the CAMHS CQC inspection report and the CQC inspection report for SIS once published.

In relation to the Clinical journey in action, reference was made to the Three Hartlepool Community Hubs; these would help any person who was seeking support through the wide collection of services delivered through the hubs; that the aim was for hubs to be in place across the Tees Valley by Spring/Summer 2023. Details were also provided of the programme of work undertaken by Stockton CAMHS to deep dive their caseload and review the assessment and allocation processes in place. Members were informed that caseload size had reduced by more than 50 per cent over a period of 12 months through appropriate and planned discharge or referral to alternative services; and the significant improvements to capacity and demand had resulted in low wait times for assessments and treatment.

The Clinical Journey next steps were outlined; discussion ensued regarding engagement and feedback and Members were advised of engagement activities via parent and carer forums, friends and family tests and participation groups.

The presentation provided details of the three domains of the Quality Journey; the Trusts commitments to the Quality Journey and the patient safety priorities were outlined; and reference was made to the elements of patient experience and involvement and effective care. Members were also provided with details of the progress in respect of the Quality Journey with particular reference made to the investment in environmental and assistive technology to improve safety on wards.

Discussion ensued regarding governance and challenge; Members were advised that the governance restructure had simplified the flow of information and improved transparency, a new Head of Risk had been appointed and workshops delivered to encourage staff to report risks. Members also noted the role of the Board of Governors in providing challenge and it was suggested that the governance structure be shared with Members.

Following concerns raised regarding restrictive interventions, Trust representatives advised Members that whilst this was an area of challenge, the Trust had received advice from nationally recognisned experts, were implementing the Merseycare HOPES model and had seen a decrease in prone restraint by 60 per cent.

The presentation outlined the background to the Lived Experience roles which were created following a review of coproduction and service user and care involvement; the responsibilities of the Lived Experience roles were outlined; and Members noted that two Lived Experience Directors were in place, Chris Morton for Durham, Tees Valley and Forensics Care Group Board and Charles Nosiri covering North Yorkshire, York and Selby Care Group Board. Particular reference was made to the main focus of the lived experience directors to date.

Discussion ensued regarding capturing the voice of the parent/carer particularly those accessing CAMHS and communication of the Trusts progress to the public; and sought assurance from the Trust in respect of safeguarding the mental health of staff. Members were assured of a range of measures in place to support the wellbeing of staff and that the Trust had invested in comms resources to ensure positive news stories and areas of improvement could be highlighted to the public.

RESOLVED – That the Chief Executive and representatives from Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust, in attendance at the meeting, be thanked for their informative presentation.