AWP, the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, has made remarkable progress in recent years to improve its mental health care. This advancement follows a damning report following a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection earlier this year. In June 2024, a surprise visit came. It looked at both in-patient care and community-based services for over 1.8 million residents across Bath, North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire and BRISTOL, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
The inspection found clear evidence that patient care had improved dramatically since the last inspection. By 2024, the CQC had warned AWP that it was in special measures, following grave concerns around the quality of care. Inspectors found that there had been a culture of over-reliance on agency staff, which enriched patient experiences. Our recent findings represent a marked departure from earlier assessments. Staff are further emboldened to engage in and shift internal decision-making processes.
While any improvement is welcome news, the overall rating for AWP is still listed as “requires improvement.” The CQC will want to keep a close watch on the trust going forward, to ensure that it doesn’t fall victim to a downward spiral. Our experience working on the ground in cities and the report’s overall message recognizes that significant improvement is certainly encouraged but far from sufficient.
Neil Cox, CQC deputy director of operations in the south, admitted to being pleased with the progress. He highlighted a notable change in workplace culture: “Staff across both services spoke positively about the learning and improvement culture that had developed since our last inspection.” He told us that the CQC are “really pleased” with the progress. He further urged that AWP “continue to build on” these improvements.
Our most recent evaluation paints a picture of an AWP program that is working better than ever. They are graded all the way up to a “good” rating, showing our dedication to improving mental health care. The [CQC] saw an extraordinary turnaround in staff morale. As a result, several of my team members recently felt empowered enough to push back on some decisions being made by senior leadership.
Leave a Reply