The survey is carried out independently and anonymously by research organisation IQVIA, allowing colleagues to speak openly about their experiences at work and helping the organisation understand both its strengths and where improvements are needed.
The results show the Trust, which operates hospitals in both South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire, is performing above the benchmark for six of the seven areas used across the NHS to understand workforce experience.
These include whether colleagues feel respected at work and feel safe and supported in their roles. The Trust is in line with the average in the seventh area, which focuses on teamwork.
Colleagues responding to the survey highlighted strong opportunities for learning and development, progress with flexible working, and positive experiences around health, safety and wellbeing at work.
Many also reported feeling supported by their immediate teams and managers, with overall morale comparing favourably with similar NHS organisations and survey measures such as bullying and harassment also remaining lower than in comparable organisations nationally.
The survey also highlights areas where further progress is needed.
Feedback around engagement, involvement in decisions and whether colleagues feel comfortable raising concerns will help shape the Trust’s priorities over the coming months, with a focus on strengthening communication and involving teams more closely the development of improvements within services.
Mark Bailey, Interim Chair of the Board at DBTH, said: “We are very grateful to the almost 4,000 colleagues who took the time to share their experiences. Because the survey is anonymous and independently run, it gives people the confidence to be open and candid about what it is really like to work here, and we genuinely value that honesty.
“This survey builds on the work we have already been doing to listen to colleagues through previous surveys and engagement across the organisation. Together, it gives us a rich insight into the experiences of services, staff groups and individuals, helping us better understand where things are working well and where more attention, and action, is needed.
“It is encouraging to see our Trust comparing favourably with similar organisations across many of the national measures of colleague experience. At the same time, results like this never mean the work is finished. We will continue to build on the many positive things colleagues have highlighted, while also focusing on areas where particular teams or groups feel their experience could be better.”
The findings will inform wider cultural work beginning across the organisation in the coming weeks to better understand colleagues’ experiences and respond to the survey findings in a coordinated and meaningful way.
Mark added: “Alongside colleagues across the Trust, the Board of Directors will look carefully at these findings alongside how our services are performing, because the experience of our colleagues is closely linked to the care we provide for patients and the communities we serve.
“We will continue to listen to colleagues and act on what they tell us as we work to make our Trust the best possible place to work and receive care.”
The NHS Staff Survey takes place every year, and colleagues will have another opportunity to share their experiences when the next survey opens in September.
Members of the public can read more about the findings here: https://www.nhsstaffsurveys.com/
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals operates Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Bassetlaw Hospital and Montagu Hospital, providing care to around half a million people across South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire each year.
