Solent NHS Trust scores highly in annual NHS Staff Survey
Solent NHS Trust has today (9 March 2023) recorded its best response rate and has sustained positive results in the annual NHS Staff Survey, highlighting its compassionate and inclusive culture.
The national annual survey is one of the largest workforce surveys in the world and is carried out every year to improve staff experiences across the NHS.
The Trust ranked among the best when compared with other combined community, learning disability and mental health Trusts and was found to be top performing in five out of the nine key themes, and above average in the other four.
Over 68.4% of staff responded to the annual survey – Solent’s best ever response rate. The results help the Trust to understand what it feels like for people working in Solent so that improvements, which have the biggest impact, can be made; helping the Trust to continue to build a workplace in which people can thrive and do their best work.
Speaking about the results, Solent NHS Trust Chief Executive, Andrew Strevens, said:
“The biggest asset to the NHS is our workforce. We have a brilliant team here in Solent and we put a big focus on making sure that we create a great place to work, a place where people feel supported, can be themselves and deliver great care.
“The results, which are testament to the commitment and dedication of everyone in Solent, demonstrate that as a Trust we have a compassionate and inclusive culture with people sharing that they feel that their role makes a difference and that they feel a strong personal attachment to their team where they are really valued. People said that colleagues are understanding and kind to one another, polite and treat each other with respect.
“It is also positive to see that our investment in learning and creating a flexible environment is making a difference.
“This year we have seen questions around the opportunities that people are given to learn and develop, as well as the support people are given to reach their potential, improve.
“We have also seen more positive responses around the flexibility people are given to make sure they can have a work-life balance, not negatively impacting their family and friends.
Whilst this is positive, there is still further work to be done. With more insight into how people feel at work, we will have more opportunity to make significant and effective changes in these areas.”
The survey also highlighted areas for improvement.
Andrew added: “We know that there is still more to do around supporting people’s health and wellbeing, ensuring people have the support and capacity to deliver the care they aspire to, as well encouraging people to take care of themselves.
“Our teams will be having conversations together to look deeper at the results so that we can make effective changes to be even better in a sustained way.”
Read our survey headline results here.
Read our NHS England benchmark report.