This person has been instrumental in implementing the NHS Core Standards for EPRR at CHFT in 2023. At the end of 2022 new guidance came from NHS England requiring all NHS providers to plan for, and respond to, a wide range of incidents and emergencies that could affect patient health and delivery of care. Demonstrating compliance to the core standards gives assurance that the Trust is prepared to respond to incidents whilst maintaining services. CHFT is a category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Action 2004 (CCA 2004) so that it can perform its critical activities in the event of an emergency or business interruption. CCA 2004 states Categorised 1 responders are required to: -
• Assess the risk of emergencies occurring and use this to inform contingency planning.
• Put in place emergency plans.
• Put in place a business continuity management led process to identify and mitigate risks.
• Put in place arrangements to make information available to the public about civil protection matters and maintain arrangements to warn, inform and advise the public in the event of an emergency. Share information with other local responders to enhance co-ordination.
• Co-operate with other local responders to enhance co-ordination and efficiency.
The core standards was a huge amount of work that required a significant amount of evidence to be submitted, due to the increased level of evidence required during 2023 we undertook a self assessment. The overall position for CHFT was assessed as ‘non-compliant’ at 31% however we are assessed as partially compliant or fully compliant across all 62 standards, giving a level of reassurance that we have a state of readiness within the organisation across all standards. From this original piece of work this person produced a phased action plan. She continued to work tirelessly over the following year against the action plan developing or portfolio with regards EPRR. Focusing on the governace around EPRR and the training and support to colleagues. Developing many plans and policies
* Major incident plan
* Critical Incident Declaration Guidance
* Adverse weather plan
* Evacuation plan
* Command and control policy
* Violence and aggression plan
* Security plan
As well as this she ran many table top sessions, live exercises and development days and sessions to support and train staff at every level of the organisation and she continues to work tirelessly on this. All staff who undertake strategic or tactical duties also have a portfolio and record of their training. We have raised our profile at CHFT across the ICB and partners in fire and police as well as at the local resilience forum and NHS england in terms of or EPRR capability. All this hard work has culminated in a significantly improved score for core standards 2024 of 77% partial compliance. We are clear this will again improved into 2025. We are one of the highest scoring orgnaisations in WYATT. Making CHFT a safer place to work.
CHuFT Awards 2026