SWFT celebrates top NHS Staff Survey results as Foundation Group achieves historic milestone

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) has once again recorded outstanding results in the 2025 NHS Staff Survey, with more than 2,600 colleagues sharing their views. The Trust performed well above the national average across all ‘People Promises’ themes, maintaining its position among the top five acute providers nationally and as the top Trust in the Midlands as recommended place to work, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to a supportive, flexible, and inclusive workplace.

A standout area was “We Work Flexibly” theme, where SWFT achieved the highest result among acute provider trusts nationally for staff reporting a good work-life balance. High satisfaction with flexible working opportunities reflects the organisation’s ongoing commitment to helping colleagues balance professional and personal responsibilities.

Advocacy for the Trust remains strong, with 74% of staff saying they would recommend SWFT as a place to work, and 69% feeling safe to raise concerns, highlighting an environment where colleagues feel supported, valued, and heard.

These results contribute to a wider success across the Foundation Group, which brings together SWFT with George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, and Wye Valley NHS Trust. Recognised as best practice by NHS England, the Group unites a workforce of more than 20,000 colleagues, working collaboratively to share learning, build resilience, and tackle NHS-wide challenges.

For the first time, all four Trusts achieved above-average scores across every national ‘People Promise’ theme, including “We each have a voice that counts” and “We are compassionate and inclusive”, demonstrating the strength of the Foundation Group’s collaborative model and a shared commitment to inclusive, supportive cultures where staff feel empowered to contribute ideas and influence change. All four organisations were ranked among the top 10 Trusts in the Midlands for recommended place to work - SWFT 1st, George Eliot Hospital 2nd, Wye Valley NHS Trust 3rd, and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 8th - with SWFT also achieving the 4th best acute provider nationally.

These results also highlight the impact of the joint leadership team model between SWFT and George Eliot Hospital, where shared learning and best practice drive continuous improvement for both staff and patients.

Adam Carson, Acting Chief Executive of SWFT, said: “I am delighted that SWFT has once again ranked so highly in the national NHS Staff Survey. Being recognised for our progress in flexible working and work-life balance is a clear testament to our commitment to helping staff balance their professional and personal lives.

“These strong results reflect the impact of the joint leadership team between SWFT and George Eliot Hospital, as well as our wider work across the Foundation Group, where sharing best practice and learnings from each other fosters a collaborative culture.

“By building on this strong foundation, we will continue to support staff wellbeing, protect work-life balance, and ensure SWFT remains a great place to work while delivering outstanding care for every patient, every day.”

Glen Burley, Chief Executive of the Foundation Group, said: “The NHS Staff Survey remains a vital tool for NHS organisations, helping us understand what we are doing well and where we can continue to improve. I am incredibly proud of this year’s results across all members of the Foundation Group. All four Trusts achieved above-average scores across every NHS ‘People Promises’ theme, including strong results in “We each have a voice that counts” and “We are compassionate and inclusive”, contributing to impressive regional rankings as recommended places to work and, for SWFT, national recognition.”

“These results show the strength of our collaborative approach, where sharing learning and best practice across the Foundation Group directly supports staff engagement and helps deliver better care for patients. Through accessible initiatives for idea-sharing and improvement across the Trust and the wider Foundation Group, we will continue to build on this year’s successes, driving continuous improvement for our staff and the patients we serve.”