Agenda item

Jill Barker, Regional Director and Susanna Yeoman, Locality Director, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trusts (BHFT) presented an update to inform the 2016-17 Annual Plan and future priorities. It was highlighted that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) report had awarded Berkshire Healthcare with a rating of ‘good’ and that the ambition was to reach ‘Outstanding’.

The Panel noted the introduction of technological developments which empowered staff through mobile working and an award as ‘Global digital exemplar for mobile working’ had been awarded. A new service had been rolled out to young patients suffering with mental health issues, SHARoN. The Panel was also updated that the connected care record, ‘Share my care’ would be live from February 2018. It was also noted that work with clinical psychiatrists, national experts in compassionate leadership was taking place to better understand how to adapt as an organisation to transform patient experiences.

It was highlighted that Children, Young Parents and Families (CYPF) were also included within the patient package review and an online resource had become available for young persons affected by eating disorders with successful uptake of users.  As part of the ongoing refresh, perinatal mental health had been added as a priority for the Five Year Forward View Plan. It was also noted that there was an ambition to reach the zero rate target for suicide by 2021 and that better staffing was needed for risk assessments to enable this. One of the emerging priorities for 2017-18 was to manage demand, and this had been done by aiming to  increase the number of patient beds.

Members discussed a range of issues which included financial challenges, out of area mental health placements, unplanned spends and future plans for Upton Hospital. Further discussions were focused on the co-location of facilities and synergies, integrated hubs, joint work force solutions which reflected challenges to attract and retain staff. The STP was looking at the active and future workforce and ways to work collaboratively, such as seeking specialised staff, publicising vacancies, providing adequate incentives for future staff and promoting mobile working for community staff. It was discussed that more work was being done to recruit staff around values and Members welcomed this shift in attitude surrounding vacancies. At the end of the discussion the report was noted by Members.

Resolved-   That the report be noted.