NELFT has launched its Patient and Carer Equality Framework (PCREF) - an organisational competency framework to help services provide culturally appropriate care, and work better with ethnic minority communities.

The PCREF was one of the key recommendations of the independent review of the Mental Health Act agreed by the government. Its development is being overseen by a steering group chaired by Dr Jacqui Dyer, Mental Health Equalities Adviser to NHS England and NHS Improvement, who attended the launch event on Friday 14 July.

The black male experience in talking therapies and acute wards, the south Asian women experience in accessing talking therapies and the identification of carers, are the priority areas for NELFT. That’s because Trust data shows that these groups have the worst access, experiences and outcomes in mental health services.

In order to put together the framework the project group at the Trust worked with patients and carers, stakeholders and experts across all the communities it serves to capture what good looks like and how to achieve improvements over time.

A patient and carers feedback mechanism was established, to embed their voices at the heart of the planning, implementation and learning cycle.

Throughout this feedback process a series of key themes were identified:

• More representation and diversity is needed in staffing at all levels. 
• Raising awareness of mental health and eradicating the stigma surrounding it.
• Working closer with local organisations and faith groups to build partnerships.
• Carers should be included in assessments, and they should be offered respite care and better processes for escalating concerns.

Improvement of data collection and educating both users of service and carers on the importance of data was also a key theme.

NELFT Executive Chief Nursing Officer, Wellington Makala, said:

“The racial disparity in the access, experience and outcomes of Black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities in mental health services is unacceptable. With the help of users of service, carers, staff, and voluntary and faith organisations we hope to eradicate these inequalities for both patients and carers, and restore their trust and confidence in the health system. I’m proud to be able to use my background as a Black man and my role as Chief Nurse to make sure all patients and carers have a seat at the table and their voices are heard.”

The Trust is also aiming to change the experience of carers and will be launching a carers strategy in 2023/24.

For more information, please go to: Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) | NELFT NHS Foundation Trust

Photo from left to right are:

Julie Jaye Charles CBE, NELFT Board Advisor and Trust Lead in Advocacy
Eileen Taylor, NELFT & ELFT Boards Joint Chair
Liz Delauney, NELFT Board Non-Executive Director
Dr Jacqui Dyer MBE, NHS England’s Mental Health Equalities Advisor and PCREF national lead
Wellington Makala, NELFT Executive Chief Nursing Officer and Executive Director AHP & Psychological Professions 
Yemisi Gibbons, NELFT Board Non-Executive Director
Nadia Ahmed, NELFT Involvement Representative
Asia Zaman, NELFT PCREF Project Manager
Mkieva Bray, NELFT Equality Diversity & Inclusion