The Annual Report and Accounts and Quality Report for Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust have been published today.

The reports are a legal requirement and contain a review of the Care Trust’s performance, service developments, financial review and achievements over the last year.

Michael Smith, Trust Chairman, said: “Whilst the last 12 months have seen significant financial pressures across the whole of the NHS including mental health and community providers we remain focused on ‘You and Your Care’, working with diverse communities to provide outstanding care.”

The Annual Report details progress made since the Trust became a Foundation Trust in April 2015. Key highlights over the year include:

• The Care Quality Commission providing the Trust with an overall rating of ‘Good’ across all areas safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led which demonstrates the Trust’s commitment to delivering high quality services and care.

• The Trust has undertaken a radical redesign of urgent mental health care in Bradford which has resulted in people being cared for closer to home, with no out of area placements in the last year.

• The opening of the Dementia Assessment Unit which has since been given the highest accolade by the leading Dementia Services Development Centre at Stirling University, for its high-quality dementia friendly design that has been created with input from local carers, families and staff.

• The Trust has worked closely with the local authority, the police and other agencies to develop a local crisis care service across the district. The Trust’s First Response service has provided 24/7 access to urgent mental health and social services and has been recognised by NHS England as a national exemplar.

• The opening of the Carers Hub which provides vital support for people in the district who are caring for loved ones accessing the Trust’s services.

The Care Trust’s Quality Report provides many examples of how staff have worked together with service users, carers and partners to provide the right care locally when people need it. It sets out the Trust’s commitment and quality priorities to continue to improve the quality of services throughout 2016/17.

Speaking about the Quality Report, Andy McElligott, Medical Director, said: “The Quality Report provides an overview of the quality of our services in three main areas: safety, clinical effectiveness and patient experience. It contains feedback from our clinical teams showing how they have changed the way they deliver care to improve the quality of our mental health, community and learning disability services.”

This is the first year the Trust has prepared financial accounts as a Foundation Trust, an organisation now accountable to regulator NHS Improvement and the Trust’s members.

Speaking about the Trust’s financial review, Liz Romaniak Director of Finance, Contracting and Estates, said:  “Despite the financial pressures that the NHS as a whole has experienced, the Trust has secured all its financial targets for 2015/16.  This is testament to the support, engagement and innovation of our teams. NHS financial constraints mean that we will continue to look for more efficient and cost effective ways to meet the needs of people accessing our services.  Equally important is the priority we place on maintaining a healthy, productive and motivated workforce to ensure we can attract and retain our valued staff.”

All the reports will be discussed formally at Trust’s Annual Members’ General Meeting (AGM). At this meeting there will be an opportunity for the public to discuss the Annual Report and Accounts, Quality Report and priorities for the coming year with Board members and Governors. The Trust’s AGM will be held on Tuesday, 27 September 2016, 5.45 pm at City Training Services, 39/41 Chapel Street, Bradford, BD1 5BY.

ENDS