Case Study: Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust achieves values-based recruitment and better patient care with NHS Employers

Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - Customer Case Study

Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, a medium-sized acute NHS trust, partnered with NHS Employers to address a recruitment challenge. Following the 2013 Francis Report, the trust needed to ensure it hired facilities staff who embodied its 'Proud to Care' values, as these employees have significant patient contact and their attitude directly impacts care and service quality.

NHS Employers helped implement a values-based recruitment process centered around a half-day assessment centre. This innovative solution, which included team activities and value-focused interviews, shifted the focus from technical skills to assessing compassion and teamwork. While the biggest benefits were cultural—fostering a sense of community and improving staff engagement—NHS Employers notes that the trust also planned to evaluate the program's impact on measurable metrics like sickness absence and retention rates after its first year.

Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust