Case Study: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust improves staff engagement and patient safety with NHS Employers

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - Customer Case Study

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, a large NHS trust serving a diverse population, faced the challenge of improving staff engagement and organizational culture during a period of significant service reconfiguration. The board was committed to ensuring staff felt supported through these changes. To address this, they partnered with the vendor NHS Employers to develop a system-wide approach known as 'The Northumbria Way'.

The solution implemented by NHS Employers focused on values-based recruitment, comprehensive staff induction, and regular communication through roadshows and team briefings. It also established mechanisms for staff to raise concerns safely and dedicated time for improvement reporting. As a result of this work with NHS Employers, staff survey scores dramatically improved; the proportion of staff who would feel secure raising concerns rose to 78%, significantly above the national average. The trust became a multi-award winning organization and was named one of the top hospitals in the country.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust