Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

“We have now reached a stage where our Lived Experience Ambassadors have worked alongside us throughout this journey and are actively supporting the recommendations for the Complex Needs Pathway within community mental health services-an area that would traditionally have been managed under the CPA framework.”

“The Trust has continued to review our assessment processes to ensure that the appropriate reviews are undertaken in a timely manner and are supported through the MDT approach which then supports a joined up approach to patient assessments. Staff in the Mental Health Crisis team are required to undertake a mental health assessment for all patients, which is monitored and audited via supervision meetings and compliance reviews.”

“We can provide assurance that there is an expectation that care plans are reviewed as a minimum weekly or following any incidents or change. To further support this changes are being made to ensure care plans are discussed at the weekly MDTs.”

“The Trust has initiated a Record Keeping Safety Improvement Programme (SIP). Part of this includes considering how to address issues of copying and pasting.”

“A reflective learning supervision session has been held with a member of staff involved in this matter in order to understand the factors in this incident and ensure the staff member understands the importance of communication key information to other clinicians.”

“The Trust is rolling out STORM Training (Skills Training on Risk Management).”

“The Trust has initiated a MDT Communication SIP due to the findings from patient safety incident investigations. A working group has been established consisting of senior clinicians and service directors to develop key principles for effective MDT working/communication and documentation.”

“The Trust is continuing focus care planning and will be holding a dedicated Care Unit Local Quality and Safety Group to spotlight”

“The Trust have made improvements, at pace in respect of the processes for formulation of risk on discharge with the implementation of discharge steps developed by the Trust Patient Flow Team. There has also been a change in practice to ensure we hold a discharge planning meeting with the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) before discharge from hospital. Clinical service managers and matrons join discharge meetings to ensure a collaborative approach.”

“The Standard Operational Policy has been reviewed and the identified errors rectified. A memo has been sent to all clinicians within the service reminding them of the use of the UK Mental Health Triage Scale in informing their clinical judgment in the decision making process. This has also been shared with the leads covering the other CRS teams.”

“In order to strengthen collaborative working across the two Trusts, a project group for development of the 'joint protocol' is being put into place. The first meeting with attendees from both Trusts has been arranged for 23rd September 2024”

“The Trust has now convened a PSIRF Improvement Oversight Project Board which is chaired by the Executive Nurse and will report into the Safety of Care Committee which is chaired by the Chief Executive Officer.”

“We note that the response state at page 5 that”

“The Psychological Services Care Unit have been advised of this concern and have provided the following assurance. Every patient who is receiving psychological intervention on an inpatient unit and is in need of continued psychological intervention post discharge, will have a handover of care from the inpatient psychologist (verbal/in writing) to the Community Team psychological practitioner.”