Page 4 - Calderstone AR 2015

04 Calderstones Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Yearbook 2014 - 2015
Chairman’s Statement
Calderstones has found itself at the centre of much attention. We have
not been robust enough in the past
at asserting who we are and what
we do. We are not a private sector organisation like Winterbourne – we are a specialist forensic part of the National Health Service; the only Trust providing solely this type of service.
We support some of the most vulnerable and challenging people in society. The majority are detained under the Mental Health Act and cared for by professional expert staff in twenty-first century accommodation. The people we support often come from prisons and we are emphatic that the NHS is the right place for
that service and care to be delivered.
This is a unique service provision and is not as widely appreciated as it should be. We are working extremely hard to ensure the speciality and distinctiveness of our service is understood and valued.
This year has seen much media and political focus on learning and intellectual disabilities. Three years on from the scandal of Winterbourne View and other instances of shocking care standards, there continues to be too many people inappropriately placed in organisations.
Recent inspections found real issues that we have taken urgent and effective steps to address. They were not quite as reported by some media outlets which for their own reasons did not present the full picture. However, we are absolutely not complacent – standards must continue to be driven upwards in everything the Trust does.
Inspectors also found many instances of high quality care and well supported service users. They found staff were aware of the Trust’s vision and of its senior management team and who felt they were well communicated with and valued. That is a particular tribute to the work of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and my Board colleagues who visit wards, are visible to staff and who take part in formal engagement activities as well as the less formal events we have on site, from parties
to charity days.
The Board has given full support to work that is ongoing to ensure the Trust is appropriately well staffed delivering safe care. We see more detailed data about this than ever before and steps being taken against the background of a national shortage of specialist nurses. We are focussed on ensuring that those areas where inspections found issues are given priority and resources.
I want to thank the CEO for his investment of time engaging with
staff directly. I joined him for one of his ‘Birthday Breakfasts’ where he meets those celebrating their big day in a particular month. There’s no agenda: staff ask what they want, discuss what’s on their mind – and I know it delivers results. Not only do staff rightly feel they are listened to, but Mark gets valuable feedback from people of all grades and he acts on issues which need to be addressed.
There have been many highlights for me in the last year. We recalled the start of the First World War and the role of the site that we now use in supporting those injured in battle. We also witnessed a superbly enjoyable Christmas service and drama, with some excellent home-grown acting talent. We’ve continued the long- overdue tradition which I introduced 18 months ago – inviting service users to the Board. Their testimony and presentations continue to keep us inspired and focussed on our true purpose.