Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF)
NHS England has launched its first ever anti-racism framework: the Patient and carer race equality framework (PCREF), for all NHS mental health trusts and mental health service providers to embed across England. Trusts and providers will use this mandatory framework to support them with becoming actively anti-racist organisations by ensuring that they are responsible for co-producing and implementing actions to reduce racial inequalities within their services. It will become part of Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections.
PCREF is a recommendation following the 2018 independent review of the Mental Health Act. It empowers Trusts to improve services for diverse ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds.
Click here for an NHSE easy read version.
HPFT began its PCREF journey in 2023 and we engaged with community organisations, service users, and carers to gather information on health disparities for racialised communities. During this period, we also began two pilots in Stevenage and Watford in partnership with two community organisations with a focus on improving access, experience and outcomes for racialised communities.
We have begun implementing PCREF across the Trust. Our approach addresses race, ethnicity, and intersectionality, encompassing the Equality Act's nine protected characteristics, lifestyles, neurodiversity, and learning disabilities.
What HPFT is doing
• Addressing health inequalities pilot – In 2023, we launched two pilot services in Watford and Stevenage in partnership with the voluntary sector. These services aim to improve access, experience, and outcomes for ethnically diverse communities engaging with our mental health services.
• Cultural awareness training – We are in the process of developing cultural awareness training for our staff, aimed at enhancing their understanding and ability to provide culturally sensitive care.
• Partnership Group – We have established a partnership group that includes service users, carers, voluntary sector partners, frontline staff, local community members, and faith leaders. This group is actively involved in the implementation of our PCREF plan.
• PCREF dashboard – A PCREF dashboard has been developed and is currently being tested. Once refined, this tool will help staff make more informed, intuitive decisions, ensuring equitable care delivery.
• Leadership commitment – HPFT is committed to reducing race inequalities and we have a dedicated Executive lead, ensuring strong oversight and accountability.
• Updated Equality and Quality Impact Assessment (EQIA) framework - Our EQIA framework has been revised to ensure all decisions, projects, and policy developments take into account the needs of protected groups.
• Policy development – Our policy template has been updated to ensure that considerations of all protected groups are embedded into the policy making process.
• Research – We have conducted research to enhance our understanding of barriers to access for Asian communities.