NSFT Chair appointed to a second term
Zoë Billingham CBE has been appointed to a second term as Chair at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT).
Zoë joined the trust in January 2022 for an initial term of three years. Her re-appointment follows a recommendation from the trust’s Nominations and Conduct Committee which was unanimously approved by the trust’s Council of Governors in May and will see her continuing in the role until 31 December 2027.
During her time in office Zoë has worked alongside her team of non-executive directors to support the drive for much needed improvements at the trust, signs of which were recognised in the last report by the Care Quality Commission in February 2023 at which time the trust’s rating moved from ‘inadequate’ to ‘requires improvement’.
Increasing engagement has been a prominent theme running throughout Zoë’s first term – increased involvement of those who use trust services, their families and their carers has been vital to the improvements being made as has increased staff engagement. It is this, alongside working with key system partners and MPs that continues to inform her priorities for her future term.
The trust is launching a new five-year strategy which provides direction and focus under four clear strategic priorities; improving health, improving care, improving culture and improving value. Attached to these priorities are 12 change programmes which are well underway and will lead to safer, kinder and better services for the people of Norfolk and Suffolk.
One of those programmes of work is the trust’s commitment to learning from the sad deaths of people in Norfolk and Suffolk. An update on this important work will be provided at the trust’s Board of Directors meeting in public on 25 July.
Zoë who was born in Norfolk and lives in Suffolk said “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our service users, their carers and our staff for everything they are doing to ensure that our trust is moving in a positive direction. I’d also like to thank our Council of Governors for recognising my ongoing commitment and giving me the opportunity to fulfil the shared vision of our Board of Directors; we are resolutely determined to secure lasting improvement to the quality of our mental health services.
“While we have further to go, I am pleased with the transformation taking place across our trust, as was recognised earlier in my tenure by the Care Quality Commission. Since then, we have put in place the fundamental building blocks needed for a safer, kinder, better future.
“I am immensely grateful to our partners and local Integrated Care Boards who are supporting us as we make much needed changes, including restructuring our services into a place-based model so that tailored and excellent mental health services are available to those that need them.
“I know we have much more to do to achieve our ambitions for those we provide care for. I am confident that by working together with our service users, their carers and families and of course our dedicated staff we will continue to improve as a Trust.”
Rt. Hon Patricia Hewitt, Chair of NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board, said: “I am delighted that Zoë has been reappointed as Chair at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.
“Zoë’s wealth of experience, together with her passion and commitment for making improvements to mental health services for the benefit of local service users, families and carers, is an asset to the Trust and our local health and care systems, and I am pleased to see this continue.
“Zoë’s wealth of experience, together with her passion and commitment for making improvements to mental health services for the benefit of local service users, families and carers, is an asset to the Trust and our local health and care systems, and I am pleased to see this continue.
“We know that there is much more to be done to drive forward the improvements to mental health services that local people expect and deserve but the considerable progress made by the Trust is encouraging. I would like to congratulate Zoë and look forward to continuing our work together.”
Professor William Pope, Chair of Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, said “It is so important that the positive progression of patient services and staff culture within NSFT continues.
“Therefore, I very much welcome Zoë Billingham’s reappointment, which will ensure that the drive for improvement and the betterment of patient outcomes continues apace.
“Under Zoë’s chairmanship we have already witnessed an uplift in NSFT’s performance, which has been recognised by the CQC.
“Her recognition of the commitment of NSFT staff in making services better for patients is an integral part of the organisation’s transformation and I look forward to the continued improvement of mental health services in Suffolk.”