Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust has taken seriously and acted quickly to respond to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection that took place at the beginning of the year.

The CQC rated the trust overall as 'inadequate'. The trust is of course very disappointed with this rating and are committed to reversing this outcome and getting back to a rating of ‘good’. 

Since the CQC visit, the trust has focused on the urgent concerns relating to quality and safety, and we are confident that we can demonstrate significant improvement.

Jan Ditheridge, newly appointed Chief Executive of Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust, said “We are very sorry that our rating has fallen well below our own expected standards and those of the CQC. However, even in the short time I have been in post it is obvious to me that we have already improved, we will improve further and we will get back to a good rating. I base this on the fact that everywhere I go in our organisation, I find committed, caring and compassionate staff who are focused on improving standards of care for our service users, their families and carers. 

“This has been particularly illuminated during the period of the Coronavirus pandemic where our staff have been tremendous. In great adversity they have supported some of the most vulnerable people in our city, ensuring that they are safe and stay well.  Our staff have cared for people with Coronavirus and I am confident that these individuals have had excellent care and their families have been supported compassionately and professionally.”

The immediate improvements taken by the trust include:

• Strengthening of our staffing arrangements on the acute mental health wards and psychiatric intensive care unit. 
• Making sure that clinical supervision is available and accessed by all clinical staff. 
• Ensuring staff are supported and have been able to complete their mandatory training. 
• An enhanced approach to physical health monitoring of our service users in our inpatient areas.
• Working with partners to ensure a more effective arrangement for the assessment of young people between the ages of 16-18.

To read the CQC's report in full, click here.