compared to other trusts. Therefore, we will be
focusing our attention over the coming months to
ensure staff feel valued through leadership,
support and encouragement, and that our
commitment to work life balance is evident.
As a result of the outcome from the Healthcare
Commission's 2007 review of our inpatient
services we implemented a number of
improvements across our Trust. In particular,
these focused on; enhancing the consistency of
information provided to service users on
admission to our wards; increasing the range of
therapeutic activities, including internet access;
and, strengthening the robustness of the
integrated care planning process and
documentation. In December 2008, our Trust
board, which monitored our action plan, were
satisfied that consistently high standards and
performance had been, and continues to be
achieved. Our performance was further
recognised when we received a score of
excellent from the Healthcare Commission for
the quality of services our Trust provides.
However, we are not complacent and
acknowledge that the years ahead are not
without their challenges. The future for our Trust
will be to build on our financially stable base and
facilitate the engagement of our Governors with
the communities we serve ensuring our long-term
strategies can be truly responsive to local needs.
Foundation Trust status will allow us greater
flexibility over our finances, service provision and
planning enabling us to build on our solid
foundations and develop new and innovative
services for the communities we serve. Our plans
over the next few years include investments in
medium secure facilities, developments in older
people's facilities and services, and the redesign
of processes which eliminate waste and errors
ultimately improving cost effectiveness, quality
and safety.
We acknowledge that we need to work hard to
increase our membership base and over the next
12 months, we will grasp the many opportunities
there are to work with the public giving those in
seldom heard communities a voice. Over the next
year, we will work closely with our 11,500
members involving them in our work.
Furthermore, we will do our best to improve our
service users' lives through our work with other
organisations. This means working with people's
carers, their families and the wider community to
help them lead purposeful lives among people
who accept them - breaking down the barriers of
stigma which often accompany mental health
problems and lead to social isolation.
On behalf of the Trust board, we would like to
acknowledge and thank our staff for the hard
work, professionalism and dedication they show
each and every day in delivering modern, high
quality and safe services to our service users,
carers and their families.
We would also like to thank our service users,
carers, volunteers, community and faith groups,
partner organisations and stakeholders who have,
and continue to support us with our overall
mission to help people get better.
Getting Better, Together.
5
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Professor Peter Marquis
Chairman
Sue Turner
Chief Executive
Service user artwork, Phoenix centre art group.
Artist Frank Johnston at a World community arts day event.