ibex gale was engaged by a large acute NHS Trust to undertake a comprehensive culture review across one of its major clinical services, involving over 1000 employees.
Our role was to explore both what was enabling a healthy, inclusive, and effective culture, and what was undermining it.
A mixed-methods approach for combined qualitative and quantitative insight: we began by developing a carefully tailored Trust-wide engagement survey that provided a broad, anonymous foundation of insight, allowing staff to share what motivated them, what frustrated them, and what made them feel proud or disengaged.
To complement this, we facilitated confidential interviews and focus groups across all professional groups and roles. These conversations were designed to go deeper, to hear the nuances and stories behind the data, and to give space for perspectives that are often unheard. Special attention was paid to reaching marginalised voices and frontline workers, to ensure every part of the Service was reflected in the findings with in-depth interviews and focus groups across all staff levels. This allowed us to gather a rich, honest picture of organisational life, one that blended hard data with real human stories.
Ensuring every voice was heard safely: We placed strong emphasis on anonymity, psychological safety, and active listening, creating space for individuals to speak candidly about their experiences without fear of consequence. The result was a balanced and deeply insightful view of the Trust’s cultural reality, highlighting not only where the pain points were, but also where resilience, commitment and care were still thriving.
Analysing Data in Layers: from emerging patterns in team dynamics and communication, to structural enablers and cultural blockers that shaped behaviour. This multi-angle view allowed us to identify not just symptoms, but underlying causes, the values, habits and assumptions that quietly influence how work gets done.
The Review told the story of culture in real terms, balancing what was working well with where attention and change was needed. Our support from the start of the Review to the ongoing support with interventions and actioning change post-Review ensured that the insights didn’t remain abstract: they were understood and acted on at all levels.
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