New Staff Voice forums aim to turn NHS colleague feedback into action

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust has expanded opportunities for colleagues to influence decisions and shape improvements through Staff Voice, a network of forums now established across its directorates.

The initiative builds on learning from a Staff Council pilot in the trust’s Forensic and Specialist Services Directorate, where colleague feedback has helped identify priorities for improvements to workplace safety, training, technology and staff wellbeing.

Feedback through the Staff Council has helped shape work on workplace safety and security, support for staff experiencing violence and aggression, training opportunities, staffing pressures, technology and staff wellbeing facilities.

Examples include plans to improve CCTV and seclusion rooms, reviews of staffing pressures and enhancements to staff facilities. These demonstrate how colleagues’ experiences can help identify where changes are needed and inform practical improvements to the working environment.

Building on this experience, the trust is extending the approach across all directorates through Staff Voice, giving more colleagues a regular opportunity to raise concerns, influence priorities and contribute to improvements. The initiative also supports the NHS People Promise commitment that every colleague has a voice that counts.

Marne Cheeseman, Deputy Chief People Officer at Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, said: “Staff Voice is about giving colleagues the opportunity to feed into decisions that affect them and the services they provide.

“We want everyone to feel safe to speak openly and confident that their feedback will be considered and acted on wherever possible. Listening to colleagues helps us understand what is working well, where improvements are needed and how we can create a better working environment and improve care for patients.”

Each directorate now has its own Staff Voice forum, bringing together staff representatives, senior leaders and HR colleagues to discuss what is going on within the trust, gather feedback on topical points, agree priorities and identify potential improvements. Representatives will share updates with colleagues on actions taken, helping ensure staff remain informed and involved in the process.

Louise Pratt, HR Business Partner for the Acute and Forensic and Specialist Services Directorates at Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, said: “The Staff Council has shown the value of giving colleagues a regular opportunity to share their experiences and help identify where improvements are needed.

“It has also created opportunities for open conversations between colleagues and leaders about the challenges facing our teams. Building on this experience through Staff Voice will help more colleagues influence decisions and contribute to practical improvements in their working environment.”

By extending Staff Voice across all directorates, the trust aims to give more colleagues the opportunity to influence decisions, raise concerns and help shape improvements to their working environment and the services they provide.