Search the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust website

Advanced options

Trust Board - May 2026

The meeting opened with a focus on patient experience, highlighting mental health recovery and employment support through IPS (Individual Placement Support - Employment) services.

A representative from IPS reinforced the importance of employment in improving wellbeing and recovery outcomes. 

Positive news and assurance

  • IPS services are performing above target, achieving 49% job outcomes against a 40% KPI and 85% job sustainment beyond 13 weeks against a 65% target.
  • Staff engagement has significantly improved, with the Trust one of the most improved mental health Trusts nationally.
  • Financial performance is strong, with statutory duties achieved and efficiency programmes delivered.
  • Continued progress is being made on patient experience, including Care Opinion, health literacy improvements, and co-production.
  • Governance and risk management are strengthening, with clear focus on board effectiveness and development. 

Updates provided

  • Organisational restructure is underway, moving from five service delivery units to two divisions supported by care groups.
  • NED recruitment has been successfully completed with a strong field of applicants, with appointments to be confirmed following final processes.
  • Workforce initiatives include expansion of apprenticeships and internal career pathways.
  • Learning disability adult replacement care services are transitioning to closure, with significant effort to redeploy staff and support patients and families.
  • SEND inspection activity is ongoing, with early learning already being applied.
  • Performance updates highlighted recovery plans to eliminate 104-week waits in community paediatrics.
  • Financial updates confirmed strong delivery, reduced agency spend through bank conversion, and continued investment in digital and estates.
  • Mental health rehabilitation redesign is progressing through engagement, national assurance processes, and planning for consultation. 

Matters of concern

  • Service resilience has been challenged during the learning disability adult replacement care service transition due to workforce movement.
  • Long waiting times in community paediatrics remain a key pressure despite recovery plans. Work is ongoing.
  • Data gaps, particularly in health inequalities and activity reporting, limit full insight.
  • Financial pressures remain, particularly delivering future efficiencies and adapting to national funding model changes.
  • Industrial action and wider system pressures continue to impact delivery. 

Decisions made

  • Minutes from the previous meeting were approved and actions updated.
  • A refreshed set of priority programmes for 2026/27 was agreed.
  • Recovery plans for key areas, including community paediatrics, were endorsed.
  • Additional support was approved for fire safety compliance workstreams.
  • The Board confirmed continued close oversight of workforce, financial risks, and major transformation programmes.