Lively, engaged and positive.

That was the verdict from our first focus group for black and minority ethnic (BME) colleagues to talk about working at CHFT. They were invited by our CEO Owen Williams to provide feedback from the frontline.  There were discussions around recruitment, career progression and discrimination /bullying both from patients and from colleagues at work.

Held at Acre Mills, it was the first of a number of focus groups where BME colleagues were invited by the Owen to come and share their experiences as part of the Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES).  After the final focus group has been held, the feedback received from all the focus groups will be reviewed and prioritised and an action plan developed.  The action plan will then be shared with the BME colleagues who have participated in the focus groups and they will be invited to attend a further meeting where discussions will take place about delivering against the action plan.  There are a number of dates with places still available and the next one is on Tuesday Feb 9 2016 so please contact Tracy Rushworth on 01484 355039 or email tracy.rushworth@cht.nhs.uk  to book your place.

The WRES aims to improve the opportunities, experiences and working environment for BME colleagues, and in so doing, help lead improvements in the quality of care and satisfaction for all patients.  The WRES measures the Trust against nine indicators and the action plan will be aimed at improving the Trust’s position against these indicators.

There are also plans in the longer term to set up a BME network consisting of colleagues from across the Trust to address the issues of race equality.

 Assistant Director of Human Resources,Azizen Khan, is the Trust’s lead for equality and diversity relating to employment and is supporting Owen with the focus groups. She said: " It went really well. It was a very positive session and people were fully engaged. It was a small group yet there was real enthusiasm and commitment from colleagues to be involved in supporting the Trust to bring about change .This is only the start and we want to take a new approach and try something different to make things better for all colleagues."