BASW England responds to Edenfield report

BASW England acknowledges the release of the Edenfield report, an independent review of Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH).

The acknowledgement in the report’s findings of the positive attributes of the workforce, show the much-needed recognition of the challenging circumstances in staff have been working within. It is imperative that the culture of the organisation moves on from the one described within the report where “staff have felt fearful to speak up for many years, and that the full extent of Edenfield’s nursing shortages and their consequences have been masked and ignored”. We welcome the report’s recommendations for the need for a fundamental change in emphasis towards people, quality, and listening to those who use and work in their services.

While welcoming the independence of the review, BASW England remains concerned about the continuing lack of understanding and willingness to change operational and cultural issues, particularly at very senior levels within the organisation. The report reveals that the GMMH Board has focused more on matters such as expansion, reputation, and meeting operational targets, rather than prioritising the quality of care provided. This has led to insufficient oversight of care quality, relying disproportionately on external regulators' periodic opinions.

The key recommendations from the Edenfield report underscore the necessity for a cultural shift, prioritising patient, family, and carer voices, and fostering a strong clinical voice from Board to floor. 

We strongly support recommendation 1, which importantly, emphasises the importance of implementing and evaluating the strategy for patient, family, and carer involvement. Furthermore, BASW England endorses Recommendations 2 to 11, stressing the significance of compassionate leadership, cultural changes, workforce development, governance improvements, and a focus on the quality of care.

The report highlights common concerns, including a slow pace of change, lack of transparency, scrutiny, and rigour in monitoring change. BASW England urges the Trust to address these issues promptly. The concern about the improvement plan primarily focusing on inputs and processes rather than cultural and leadership changes aligns with BASW England's perspective, emphasising the need for comprehensive solutions to complex problems.

We welcome the reports acknowledgement that the identified factors enabling poor care at Edenfield underscore the importance of listening to patients and their families, strengthening the clinical voice, addressing staffing challenges, improving the physical environment, and fostering a positive culture with high morale and supportive leadership.

BASW England encourages GMMH, regulators, and commissioners to reflect on the report's findings with openness and humility, ensuring that genuine learning takes place to prevent similar issues in the future. The organisation must prioritise the well-being of its staff and the quality of care provided to the communities it serves.