Agenda item

Councillor Richardson welcomed Stephanie Bridger, Jane McGrath and Sarah Rushton from the West London Mental Health Trust.   A full inspection of the Trust had been undertaken between August and November 2018 and the report had been compiled in two parts.  The report had been published in December 2018 and the Trust had been moved from good to outstanding, for caring across all services.  The Care Quality Commission (CQC) had commented on improvements but there remained some requirement notices in places and work was underway to ensure that these were resolved. The CQC had been particularly impressed with the Trusts work on co-production and partnership working.  Considering the patient perspective was a radical approach, looking to build treatment plans that placed the patient at the centre.

Commenting on staff recruitment and retention, it was recognised that this was a London-wide pressure with specific challenges, it was noted that in other areas such as Harrow, a consultant psychiatrist was a member of the clinical team. By contrast, Hammersmith and Fulham did not have a similar, consultant led model and that this was a CCG funding issue. 

Stephanie Bridger outlined the Trusts initiatives, which offered a varied range of staff training opportunities. Different educational pathways such as apprenticeships (including for occupational therapists), peer support; and encouraging retired nurses back into practice, would help to retain staff.  The Trust was focused on service team specific recruitment events, rather than Trust wide events.  The difficulty was not the lack of expertise, but around the mix of skillsets needed, for example a band 5 rather than a band 6 nurse based in the community.  The pressures on recruitment were well recognised, particularly since the nursing bursary had been abolished. The Trust was investing in training their own staff, as part of its unique selling point.

Jen Nightingale asked if the funding training would be ringfenced and it was explained that the extra cost of investment was more financially efficient than resorting to agency staff and allowed the Trust to retain staff.

Councillor Caleb-Landy asked about what steps the Trust was taking to address patient seclusion.  Stephanie Bridger explained that they had developed a matrix around seclusion but that there was a lack of seclusion facilities in Hammersmith & Fulham, which compromised the Trust’s facility to safeguard an individual’s privacy and dignity.  This was being managed and the Trust’s board had oversight of these concerns, particularly in sites such as Broadmoor, which the Trust also had responsibility for. 

Councillor Richardson asked if work around developing community based services included support for suitable housing for those with specialised needs.  It was confirmed that this provision was within the remit of the Council, not the Trust. Lisa Redfern explained that she chaired a weekly meeting board with a sensory housing officer to consider appropriate and supported housing, particularly around discharge to ensure that the correct provision was in place.

Councillor Richardson commended the work undertaken by the Trust to significantly improve ratings.  The Trusts intent around recruitment and retention was also welcomed.

RESOLVED

The Committee noted the report.