The Christie Pathology Partnership

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• Overview
• Kindness, compassion and dignity
• Treating people as individuals
• Independence, choice and control
• Responding to people’s immediate needs
• Workforce wellbeing and enablement

The service demonstrated a strong, person-centred culture. There were effective systems in place to promote staff wellbeing, including access to a confidential employee assistance programme, occupational health services, and a network of trained mental health first aiders. The provider actively encouraged a supportive working environment through wellbeing initiatives and open communication. Staff described the service as caring and inclusive, with a positive team ethos where colleagues supported one another.

Find out what we look at when we assess this area in our information about our new Single assessment framework.

The judgement for Kindness, compassion and dignity is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Caring key question.

The judgement for Treating people as individuals is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Caring key question.

The judgement for Independence, choice and control is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Caring key question.

The judgement for Responding to people’s immediate needs is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Caring key question.

The provider promoted staff wellbeing and supported staff to deliver person-centred care.

The service offered a confidential employee assistance programme, “Care First,” which provided 24-hour support, 365 days a year. This service offered emotional support for personal challenges such as financial concerns, relationship issues, and low mood. It also provided advice on maintaining good mental wellbeing, access to legal information, and face-to-face counselling where required.

The provider ensured staff had access to occupational health services. An onsite occupational health team supported pre-employment health checks and routine screening, while external providers managed more complex referrals.

The service established a network of mental health first aiders (MHFA). Staff in these roles completed specialist training, including a Level 3 First Aid for Mental Health qualification. The organisation also required at least 50% of managers to complete Mental Health Champion training to help them recognise and respond to staff who required additional support.

The provider promoted health and wellbeing initiatives within the workplace. This included providing fresh fruit weekly for staff. During Mental Health Awareness Week, the service organised activities such as interactive webinars that offered practical strategies for managing stress, as well as a “Wear it Green” day to raise awareness and encourage participation.

The service kept staff informed through regular laboratory newsletters, which included updates and encouraged staff to share questions, feedback, or suggestions with managers to support continuous improvement.

Staff described the workplace as supportive and told us it felt like a “family,” where colleagues looked out for each other and worked together positively.