Chesterfield Royal Hospital

On this page

• Overview
• Shared direction and culture
• Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders
• Freedom to speak up
• Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion
• Governance, management and sustainability
• Partnerships and communities
• Learning, improvement and innovation

Feedback from all staff including PAU, identified a culture of mistrust and a perception of poor communication which we were told was affecting morale and staff retention.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

During the assessment process we spoke with staff in PAU and recieved concerns raised through the CQC website regarding staffing. Staff expressed a culture of mistrust which affected morale and raised concerns that decisions affecting them and patient safety would be made without there input. However, the trust provided evidence that communication with staff was paramount when making decisions regarding patient safety.

The trust provided us with evidence of a comprehensive package of support. We were told a lead nurse working clinically within the PAU supported the availability of this service. Staff within the Children and Young People asessment service group also told us they provided staff to support the opening of PAU when ward staffing allowed.

We did not look at Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.

Staff we spoke with did not appear to have confidence in the Freedom to Speak Up process (FTSU). However, evidence provided by the trust indicated staff cancelled meetings organised with FTSU to discuss concerns related to staffing and morale. Positive changes were recognised however, the underlying mistrust of senior managers appeared to affect the staff morale and overall culture of the service. Evidence provided by the trust supported that staff were heard and were committed to positive recruitment and patient safety. Senior leaders we spoke with were aware of staff concerns. However, staff appeared to not have the belief in what leaders were saying despite positive actions. Feedback from staff identified a culture of mistrust and a perception of poor communication which we were told was affecting morale and staff retention.

The trust had processes and policies to support staff in speaking up. Staff reported concerns to senior managers on several occasions during 2023 using the freedom to speak up process . Meeting minutes were shared with us which demonstrated communication and learning was shared across the children's service.

We did not look at Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.

We did not look at Governance, management and sustainability during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.

We did not look at Partnerships and communities during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.

We did not look at Learning, improvement and innovation during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.