Concerns over leadership at Black Country mental health trust

An independent investigation into the culture at an NHS mental health trust has found distrust among staff at all levels and concerns over leadership. Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust commissioned a report in the hope of developing more collaborative relationships between doctors and the trust board following a vote of no confidence in management in December last year. Initial findings have also highlighted poor governance and communications within the organisation. The trust said it was committed to working with staff to address areas identified for improvement. Seventeen people have been interviewed so far as part of the investigation by Xytal, an organisation that said it supported healthcare teams to become more efficient, with nine responses to a survey also considered. Findings revealed there was distrust at all levels within the organisation, including between the executives and the board of directors; executives and senior medical staff; senior medical staff and other medical staff; and senior medical staff and operational management. The breakdown among staff followed concerns over the way medical director, Mark Weaver, had been asked to step down and deputy medical director, Sharada Abilash, not being asked to take over while due process occurred. Consultants went on to vote...