Around 60 colleagues from across our Trust recently had the chance to explain more about what they do, and how they feel about their work, to flesh out the wealth of information from many of the surveys and statistics we have about working for CHFT.

Therapists/AHPs and support staff, student nurses/Health Care Assistants, junior doctors, midwives/registered nurses, admin (including estates) and consultants all shared what they were proud about in their work at CHFT, as well as their concerns.

Pictured are healthcare assistants Debbie Brown (radiology), Shenagh Marshall (pre assessment unit, CRH) and Paula Armitage (ward 3 CRH, Paediatrics) together with Associate Director, Engagement and Inclusion Ruth Mason, who led the listening groups.

Quality Improvement Manager (Patient Experience and CQC), Alison Lodge, said: "We were particularly impressed about the depth of knowledge and positivity shared with us, especially by Debbie, Shenagh and Paula."

These conversations are invaluable and will help us make the best decisions about future changes and all the feedback and suggestions from the focus groups will be shared with the senior executive team for consideration and action.

Some of the key themes from the groups included:

• Colleagues are proud of the work they deliver in their teams and of their own achievements at CHFT
• Generally people enjoy working at the Trust and are happy with the facilities and environment
• Colleagues feel we're not as efficient as we could be which impacts on them and our patients
• Colleagues were insightful about potential improvements to their service and keen to share them

Ruth added: "People were pleased to be able to attend the focus groups. It's clear those colleagues who came along were all keen to share what they know about working at our Trust and would value more opportunities to do so in the future".