Earlier this year (1 June), the CQC published a report into the well-led aspects of the national BPAS service. The review found that operational leaders promoted an open and transparent culture where most staff felt safe to raise concerns and report incidents. Safeguarding processes were in place and front-line staff were supported with appropriate training and guidance by an experienced central safeguarding team. In addition, a clear set of core organisational values had been developed and shared across all BPAS services and a programme of site visits by the leadership team was being undertaken to improve staff engagement.
However, inspectors also identified some areas where governance processes lacked rigour, and found that clinical and corporate risks were not always recognised and escalated to ensure effective organisation-wide learning and improvement. The report said that action was needed to strengthen oversight of risk and better support staff in their delivery of care.
Leaders at BPAS have responded promptly to address these issues, with a major change programme now underway. This comprehensive two-year strategy and improvement plan lays out the key goals we want to achieve for BPAS: excellence in service delivery to women, alongside research and advocacy to improve women’s access to services, and to secure their reproductive rights more broadly. We will ensure that meeting structures and cycles are reviewed, and that data are better reported and analysed so we can offer continual improvement. These vital appointments will accelerate and enhance the improvement of risk escalation processes and involvement from floor to Board.