Our annual meeting: The power of community
Find out about the community services available in your area and join us at our combined annual members' and annual general meeting on Wednesday, 18 September.
Join us online or in-person
You can join our annual meeting online or in-person at:
Age UK Ashford, Farrow Court, Stanhope Road, Ashford TN23 5RF.
Before the meeting there will be a special marketplace event, showcasing all the community services available for local people to keep them safe, healthy and well at home, for longer. The marketplace is delivered by East Kent Health and Care Partnership.
Then at our annual meeting, you will hear from our Chair John Goulston and Chief Executive Mairead McCormick about how we have made a difference to people in Kent, Medway, East Sussex and London during the past year.
We will also share a message from our Lead Governor Carol Coleman on the activity of our Council of Governors and Chief Financial Officer Gordon Flack will be sharing our financial position from the year.
- 11am to 1pm – Community services drop-in marketplace and networking: No need to book
- 2 to 3.30pm – KCHFT annual members’ and general meeting: Booking required.
Book your place at our annual meeting (2 to 3.30pm):
The power of community: How we make an impact
We deliver 2.2 million contacts each year, through more than 70 different services to communities across Kent and Medway, East Sussex and parts of London.
It’s been a busy year for Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust – our achievements this year, include opening a new stroke recovery ward, delivering 250,000 vital vaccinations and stepping up wards to support rehabilitation and recovery.
Read our summary annual report for a snapshot of our work from April 2023 to March 2024 and how we measure our success against our four key ambitions:
- Better patient experience
- Putting communities first
- A great place to work
- Sustainable care
Better patient experience
Did you know the number of people living with multiple and complex health conditions will rise by around 16 per cent by 2027?
We are working to improve the rehabilitation and recovery of people in our community hospitals, supporting them to regain their independence and live healthier lives for longer.
From new specialist support workers helping keep people safe and well at home instead of in hospital to new clinical hubs and rehabilitation units, reducing hospital admissions and the need for long-term care.
Rosemary Crouch: 'I wasn’t just being cared for – I felt like I mattered’.
As well as working in partnership with Kent County Council to create the health and social care roles and opening a stroke rehabilitation in east Kent, we have also introduced integrated neighbourhood teams and virtual frailty, respiratory and Hospital at Home wards, to support people to manage their own health and wellbeing.
And 1,740 people were seen aboard our public health bus, with almost 400 health checks, 200 immunisations and 73 health MOTs delivered, along with many health conversations and signposting to other services.
Putting communities first
From specialist health visitor drop-in sessions for minority communities to supported help for adults living with neurodiversity, our in-clinic and outreach services are available to everybody, at every stage of their life.
Our communities first ambition encourages us to think about those people we deliver care to, not just as service users and patients, but as people.
Watch our animation to find out more about health inequalities in your area and how we make sure our services are accessible for everybody.
A great place to work
#ComeToCommunity and find out about becoming part of #TeamKCHFT at the networking marketplace, which will also be offering advice on career and volunteering opportunities.
Our targeted NHS Staff Survey campaign in 2023 saw us receive our highest response rate ever, with 70 per cent of our colleagues responding and ensured that even more voices were heard, exceeding our breakthrough objective.
Family Partnership Programme Manager and Safeguarding Lead Health Visiting Service, Vita Martin Achong
“I moved here from Trinidad and Tobago in 1988, starting off in midwifery and moving to health visiting in the early noughties, I then worked as a practice teacher, coordinator and education lead. By 2020 I’d completed a BSc in specialist community public health nursing and a Master’s degree in public health. I then became family partnership programme manager and safeguarding lead.
“My background has never held me back at KCHFT, in fact I’ve been offered every possible opportunity going. I do believe that KCHFT is a big part of my success story but there is still a long way to go for the culture of acceptance to filter through our workplace.
“I certainly believe that our workplace gave me the tools and opportunities to meet my ambitions.”
Sustainable care
In three years from now, our staff will spend 50 per cent less time on admin processes that don’t add value to patient care.
This is just one of our bold breakthrough targets in our constant quest to build on our skills to continue improving the quality of care we provide to our communities.
We are committed to living within our means to deliver outstanding care, in the right buildings, supported by technology, and reduce our carbon footprint.
Find out more about sustainability and read how occupational therapist Shirley Rashid’s scheme to recycle crutches won national acclaim.
