Safety conversations help to strengthen Trust’s culture of learning and safety

17 Sep 26

A new programme of safety conversations is helping the Trust to strengthen its culture of learning, openness and continuous improvement.

Illustration for World Patient Safety Day showing a model globe surrounded by small figures representing people from around the world. The words “World Patient Safety Day” appear in blue text above the globe on a light green background.

Launched in January 2026, the initiative brings colleagues together to share learning, discuss risks and explore ways to improve safety for service users, carers and staff.

The monthly Safety Conversation bulletins and webinars were introduced to encourage open discussion and help teams learn from incidents, good practice and emerging safety themes from across the organisation. Topics covered so far have included suicide prevention, sexual safety, reducing discrimination and reducing restrictive practice.

The bulletins bring together important safety alerts and learning from across the Trust. Teams are encouraged to use the information to reflect on their own practice and consider how lessons learned can improve the care and support they provide.

The webinars have provided an opportunity for colleagues from different services and professions to come together, hear about innovative work taking place across the Trust and share learning in a supportive environment.

Feedback from colleagues has highlighted the value of taking time to reflect on safety and share ideas.

One colleague said: "An excellent way for colleagues to discuss safety issues within the Trust and share examples of good practice and safety initiatives."

Another commented: "An opportunity for interactive discussion and reflection regarding key safety issues impacting my work and organisation."

Kate Baker, HPFT's Safety Lead, who developed the safety conversation approach alongside Keith Mupita, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for Safety and Risk, said:

"World Patient Safety Day is the perfect opportunity to talk about safety and how we can create a safer organisation for staff, service users and carers through Safety Conversations.

"Safety is everyone's business and meaningful conversations are one of the most powerful ways we learn and improve. It has been encouraging to see colleagues from across the Trust engaging with the bulletins and webinars, sharing their experiences and using the learning to strengthen safety within their own teams.”

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Safety conversations help to strengthen Trust’s culture of learning and safety