Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust 'improving'- says Health watchdog
The trust has however been told to submit an action plan outlining how it will address remaining issues
A report's revealed mental health services run by the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust are improving.
Community-based mental health services for adults of working age have improved from requires improvement to good overall- according to the Care Quality Commission.
However, Mental health crisis services and health-based places of safety remain still 'requires improvement' according to the Health watchdog.
The trust has been told to submit an action plan outlining how it will address remaining issues around to the timeliness of emergency referrals, access to outside space and staffing.
The report in more detail:
Inspectors found at community-based mental health services for adults of working age:
• People described staff as caring, respectful and inclusive, promoting independence and involving them in decisions about their care.
• People felt safe using the service, were confident to raise concerns, and said complaints were handled promptly. They told inspectors staff provided effective care and offered a range of treatments and clearly explained medicines.
• Care co-ordinators built consistent, trusting relationships and recognised early signs of deterioration, providing people with regular and familiar support.
• Staff provided regular care reviews, referred people to other services such as physiotherapy and dentistry, and ensured physical health checks were carried out by the GP and results shared with mental health teams. People said they received personalised treatments and therapies.
• However, staff didn't always share care plans or risk management plans with people. Some people said information about therapy type and frequency was unclear.
The CQC found at mental health crisis services and health-based places of safety:
• People told inspectors staff treated them with kindness, respect and offered emotional support, and most people said they felt safe, understood and involved during care and discharge planning.
• Carers gave positive feedback about staff attitudes and behaviours. Staff understood their relatives’ individual needs and included them in care reviews and decisions.
• The service had made improvements since the last inspection, including introducing a 24/7 urgent mental health helpline and strengthening data systems and governance oversight.
• However, the service still didn't always assess emergency referrals within 4-hours in line with national standards.
• Staffing shortages remained a concern, particularly in crisis resolution home treatment teams, where insufficient staffing affected flow through the crisis pathway, despite some recent recruitment progress.
What have local health leaders said?
Caroline Donovan, Chief Executive Officer at NSFT, said: “These are the most positive CQC reports which our Trust has received in a decade.
They are a testament to the dedication of our staff, who work incredibly hard every day to deliver high quality services to our local communities and have focused relentlessly on making improvements.
“The inspectors recognised that our teams place service users and their carers at the heart of everything they do and treat them with compassion and kindness.
"The feedback received from people using our services was especially positive, and shows our staff treat people with dignity and respect.
“We are proud that these reports have acknowledged the significant improvements we have made.
"However, we also recognise we have more to do to ensure we are consistently providing safer, kinder and better services to everyone who needs our support.”
"We recognise that we still have a lot more work to do"
NSFT’s Chair, Zoë Billingham CBE, said: “I would like to thank staff in our community and crisis teams and our health-based places of safety team for their hard work in driving these improvements forward.
"Their efforts are being reflected in services across the Trust as we work together to achieve a lasting and positive change for the people of Norfolk and Suffolk.
“While we recognise that we still have a lot more work to do, we hope these reports illustrates our determination to work alongside our partners to make further improvements for the people who need us.”
"A really important step forward for the Trust"
Dr Ed Garratt, Chief Executive of the NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care
Board and interim Chief Executive of NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB, said: “These CQC reports are a really important step forward for the Trust.
"They reflect the improvement in leadership we have seen since Caroline Donovan’s arrival. It is vital now to sustain the improvement by building on the positive momentum evidenced in these reports.”