Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust presented an improvement plan update to the council in response to “inadequate” CQC rating last July.
Directors at the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), Gemma Clark, Sian Wimbury and John Walker, presented the Trust’s plan this morning “focusing upon providing oversight and assurance of the progress against the improvement plan.
“Which was developed to address the issues…raised by regulators and external reviews regarding the quality and safety of services.”
In their July inspection, the CQC found “Only 40.1 per cent of staff, if a friend or relative needed treatment…would be happy with the standard of care provided by the trust.”
The updated plan details five categories of improvement including, “Patient Safety”, “Clinical Strategy and Professional Standards”, “People”, “Culture” and “Leadership and Government.”
Within these categories are focus areas including; “Safe Staffing, “Research and Innovation”, “Staff Health and Wellbeing”, “Empowerment and Equality” and “Quality Governance.”
Salford City Council queried: “If there is sufficient support for residents with mental health issues who appear statistically to have greater chances of committing Anti-Social Behaviour.”
The GMMH confirmed that: “GMMH work with Greater Manchester Police on providing support for residents and the police via ‘Right Care for the Right Person’ approach.
“Together with other agencies we try to allocate the right support in a situation.”
“‘Right Care for the Right Person‘ is a national scheme between local police services and the NHS attempts to ensure mental health patients receive the right support when they call an emergency service.”
GMMH hope to “deliver fundamental changes to the safety culture, clinical and corporate governance assurance systems, and leadership focus and visibility in the Trust.”
In their presentation, the GMMH have been transparent about the challenges they may face including “workforce demand and supply” and “maintaining flow through inpatient services.”
They also noted risks to the delivery of the plan such as “financial challenges” and “sustainable leadership.”
They continued: “GMMH improvement plan is being driven by a new, some temporary, but experienced executive leadership.”
Despite this, the directors told the council they plan to achieve the outcomes of the improvement plan by March 2025.
They also anticipate several opportunities for the GMMH to make improvements including “investment in Mental Health ambulances” and “support from NHS England Intensive support team.”
You can find the full Salford City Council meeting here and read the GMMH’s presentation here.
The GMMH July CQC Inspection Report can also be found here.