NHS trust chair to step down after critical report

Jeremy Vanes will step down at the end of November

The chair of a mental health trust which was criticised over its leadership is to step down.

A report in August into the Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which followed a vote of no confidence in its leadership in December, found distrust among staff at all levels.

Jeremy Vanes's term as chair was due to finish in 2025, but in a statement, he said it would be "better for the organisation" for him to leave at this stage.

The trust said the process to appoint an interim chair was under way as was work to implement the report's recommended actions.

Mr Vanes said it had been a "privilege" to have served the patients and people of the Black Country, alongside "hardworking, talented, and caring staff".

"BCHFT is beginning a journey of change and improvement to deliver cultural and organisational development," he said.

"Successful delivery of this change will require long-term, sustained commitment.

"I have reflected on my role and concluded it would be better for the organisation for me to leave as this improvement journey begins rather than midway through."

Xytal, the organisation behind Auigust's report, recommended that there should be team coaching for the board and for executives and the medical advisory committee.

It offered seven routes that the trust could take to build relationships.

The trust said it had already begun implementing actions to address the recommendations.