What have we done so far?

In partnership with Black Thrive and SLam, between November 2020 and January 2021, a phase of pre-engagement our three groups – Black community members, people who use our services and their carers, and staff. This involved going out to meet people where they are and initiating conversations about PCREF. This was followed by a specific event for each group called ‘Fit for Partnership’ to explore how we can work together as staff, members of the Black community, service users and carers.

In February 2021, we delivered four borough-based events in Lambeth, Southwark, Croydon and Lewisham. These were co-hosted by SLaM borough Service Directors and each borough Independent Advisory Group. Here we discussed quantitative and qualitative information gathered on AEO of the ethnic groups identified and discuss what areas we should focus on next. We held a Trust-wide event to bring together all perspectives and identify an overarching approach to focus on in the next phase of developing our PCREF approach and key areas that the Trust needs to improve, to better meet the needs of the local Black community.

We have rolled out phase two of the programme, focusing on the ten national organizational competencies identified by NHS England in addition to two local organizational competencies that were identified during the first phase. These are the skills and practices the trust needs to focus on, to improve the way we offer and deliver services so that equity is achieved.