Agenda item

This report outlines the findings from a recent inspection Care Quality Commission Inspection into services offered by Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Chris Butler and Anthony Deery from Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust will be in attendance to present the report and answer any questions that Members might have.

Members considered a report which outlined findings from a recent Care Quality Commission Inspection into services offered by Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Chris Butler, the Chief Executive of Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Anthony Deery, the Interim Director of Nursing were in attendance to present the report.

It was reported that Leeds and York had been the first Mental Health Trust to be inspected using the new Care Quality Commission inspection model and that some issues raised were Trust-wide, such as training. Helpful comments were also received from the inspection on the Trust’s complaints handling procedure.

Questions from Members included;

·        What measures had been put into place to address the ‘must do actions’ as identified by the report and what was the timetable for this?

·        How was safety being addressed given that the Trust’s services were spread across seventeen sites?

·        What was the Trust’s approach to whistleblowing in regards to patient safety?

·        Why were there lower staff morale levels in York than in Leeds?

In regards to Bootham Park an interim plan was in place as Ward 6 patients would transfer temporarily to an upgraded ward at Cherry Tree House in July to allow for the upgrade of Ward 6 at Bootham Park to take place. Patients from Ward 1 at Bootham Park would move to Ward 6 and those on Ward 2 would go to an upgraded Ward 1.

Accommodation at Meadowfields was now female only, there was a plan in place to address the environment at Acomb Gables which would be updated this year. Worsley Court was now a male only facility and all staff would receive mandatory mental health and capacity act training. The closure of Worsley Court had been temporary in order to allow the upskilling of the staff.

In response to how safety was addressed, Members were told that the Trust felt that they had the duty of following the Mental Health Act in providing care in the least restrictive environment by eliminating risks, but that safety was not an absolute term.

In regards to a concern raised by a Member about whistleblowing, it was reported that the Trust had signed up to a national initiative, to provide a culture where staff could feel safe to speak out and raise concerns.

There was felt to be lower morale in York as attracting new recruits was harder, and what was needed was more personal development. There was also the acknowledgment that the roles performed by Trust staff were uncomfortable for many.

The Chief Executive suggested that if Members wished that the Trust could feed back to them progress on their action plan to a future meeting.

The Chair, on behalf of the Committee, thanked the Chief Executive and Interim Director of Nursing for attending the meeting and answering Members questions.

Resolved:  (i)  That the report be noted.

                  (ii)  That a report on the Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Action Plan be received by the Committee.

Reason:     In order that the Committee are kept informed of the findings of the Care Quality Commission’s Inspection Report into Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.