‘Not every change is an improvement but every improvement is a change; you can’t do anything better unless you can manage to do it differently’

- Eliezer Yudkowsky.


Throughout October we have been shining a spotlight again on improvement – helping you learn and connect with others across health and care to make a difference.

As our Improvement Month draws to a close, we would like to take this opportunity to thank our friends and colleagues who have shared their stories, joined our sessions, and helped spread the word. 

Change doesn’t have to be large scale to make a positive difference, small changes can have a BIG impact, and this month we hope to have inspired you to try out some improvements in your work area.

And remember, you can get in touch with us anytime to share the work you've been doing - just email us at info@theclic.org.uk, or share with us via Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.


In case you missed anything from our Improvement Month, here's a recap of some of the information, opportunities and stories we've shared:


WEEK 1: Understanding Value & Waste - Releasing time to care

During this week, we took a closer look at how listening and acting on what’s important to our patients helps us identify ‘value’ so we can release time or make savings. If we can understand what adds value, we can identify value in all our processes and pathways and maximise this whilst minimising activities that are wasteful or do not add value.

Take a look back at Week 1 for some useful tools, along with videos describing the '15 seconds 30 minutes' movement (plus some local examples of this type of improvement!).

In collaboration with NCIC's IM&T Training Team, we're also pleased to be offering a 'Microsoft Office 2013: Tips & Timesavers!' session on 12th November 10-11:00am. Find out more & book your place here...

 

WEEK 2: Measurement - How do you know if your change is an improvement?

Measuring for improvement does not have to be complicated, can be applied to small scale changes, and can show: 

  • How well the current process is performing
  • If we have reached an aim
  • If the changes have resulted in improvement
  • If the change has been sustained

 In this week we again shared some helpful tools, the Beech C Improvement Wall story (below), and later in the month we also shared an story on 'Reducing polypharmacy for better patient outcomes' (below): 

 

WEEK 3: The safety of the people who use our services

During this week, we focused in particular on the safety of the people who use our services, which should be absolutely central to any improvement we make. 

We had an interesting article on 'Involving Patients in their Safety', more useful tools, as well as this Improvement Story on Community Health Pathways:

 

WEEK 4: Co-Production - Working together with the people who use our services

This week saw us focus on co-production, and how working in partnership with the people who use our services ensures we get the very best out of our improvement work.

We described what co-production is, the benefits, and offered some helpful tips on how to get stated. We also shared these fantastic stories and opportunities:

Co-Production Case Study Workshop: The Copeland Community Stroke Prevention Project - 1st December, 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM, Virtual

A co-production success story: The LINK service for children and young people

Co-Producing the LeDeR Annual Report:

 

A greener NHS and social care...

We couldn't talk about improvement without taking some time to think about the sustainability of the work we do. Take a look at some useful information and opportunities to get involved here...

In in collaboration with North Cumbria Knowledge and Library Services, on 12th November 1-1:30pm we are also holding a Lunch & Learn session titled 'We need to talk about climate change…'. In this short presentation, Anna Foster (Trust Lead for Strategy and Sustainability, CNTW) will describe the series of ‘climate conversations’ held earlier this year at the Trust to raise awareness of sustainable healthcare and their Green Plan, empowering colleagues to raise these issues within their own teams. No need to book - get the MS Teams link here...

 

Supporting Improvement: The Knowledge and Library Team

Our Knowledge and Library colleagues work hard to enable health and care professionals to make the best use of evidence obtained from research. Read more about the work they do, as well as a case study on access to Hepatitis C testing here...

 

NHS England Quality Improvement (QI) Learning

Find out more about the range of FREE online improvement courses NHS England are offering to staff working at all levels across health and care here...

 

Thank you again! Keep on improving...

Are you a system leader or aspiring system leader in North Cumbria? 

Would you like to be part of an exciting new programme?


CLIC are running a pilot System Leadership Programme on behalf of the North Cumbria Integrated Care Partnership, and we are looking for volunteers to become part of the first cohort.

Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) are partnerships that bring together providers and commissioners of NHS services across a geographical area, with local authorities and other local partners to collectively plan health and care services to meet the needs of their population. The central aim of ICSs is to integrate care across different organisations and settings, joining-up hospital and community-based services, physical and mental health, and health and social care. 

Following several years of locally-led development, and based on the recommendations of NHS England and NHS Improvement, the government has set out plans to put ICSs on a statutory footing. All parts of England are now covered by one of 42 ICSs.  


In April 2022, North Cumbria CCG will merge with the North East region to become North East North Cumbria (NENC) ICS. The ICS will exist to achieve four aims:

  1. Improve outcomes in population health and health care
  2. Tackle inequalities in outcomes, experience and access
  3. Enhance productivity and value for money
  4. Help the NHS support broader social and economic development

Although the merger will only directly affect the CCG and not local partner organisations, the ways of working and expectations in terms of integrated working will begin to change rapidly. Therefore, the System Leadership Pilot will be timely in offering a programme that not only helps to develop the skills and behaviours of system leadership, but will also be supported with the local context and stories of what is happening in North Cumbria.


This is an exciting but challenging time for system leaders. If you would like to get ahead and ensure you have the right skills, behaviours, and knowledge to work successfully for great service user outcomes, please consider signing-up for our pilot.

The commitment is likely to be:

  • Two one-to-one conversations (approx. one hour each) with the CLIC team pre-course
  • Three leadership modules between the end of January 2022 and end of February 2022 – approx. 18 hours in total
  • Two follow up sessions post-course – approx. 4 hours in total


If you would like to be part of the pilot or would like to have a conversation, please contact: karen.kirk@northcumbriaccg.nhs.uk 

Please see below for details of the latest personalised care information and opportunities:


Resources to help you promote Self Care Week

Self Care Week (15 – 21 November) is the annual UK-wide national awareness week that focuses on embedding support for self-care across communities, families and generations. The theme this year is ‘Practise Self Care for Life’ and its organiser, the Self Care Forum, has produced free resources to help with planning activities, including an 8 Point Plan.

Self Care Week provides the perfect opportunity to support people in their physical health and mental wellbeing - be part of the self-care movement. A series of fact sheets are also available to download, including one on Long COVID/Post COVID Syndrome. Take a look at the website or get in touch with the charity for more details at selfcare@selfcareforum.org. You can also subscribe to the newsletter.


Care Co-ordinator Workspace on FutureNHS Collaboration Platform

NHS England & NHS Improvement are making some changes to the Supported Self-Management Future NHS platform to improve how they support those in care coordinator roles and make it easier for you to find information and resources relevant to your role.

They’ve set up a brand new Care Co-ordinator workspace for you to access. It includes resources tailored to your role and new functionality, such as a space for you to have regional discussions. Please ensure you have either accepted the invite to the workspace/ sign up here to the new platform Care Coordinators - FutureNHS Collaboration Platform.

If you have any questions about the workspace, or difficulty joining, please email: england.supportedselfmanagement@nhs.net 


Physical Activity Link Worker Survey

The survey has been developed by the North-West Active Partnership Social Prescribing Forum. The survey is aimed at link workers, social prescribers, community connectors or their equivalents across the North-West.

Survey purpose: The survey is to capture the experience of Link Workers discussing and referring in to physical activity provision. We aim to respond to the feedback received by for example, offering support, training or development opportunities, for both link workers and providers, to ensure physical activity contributes as fully as possible, to the health and wellbeing of those referred in to social prescribing schemes, living across the region. It is hoped by link workers completing this survey, it will benefit them, their service and their clients.

Deadline for completion: Friday 19th November, 2021

Survey link: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/North_West_Active_Partnership_Link_Worker_Survey/


A short course for a big health impact 

Nearly half the adults in England (43%) struggle to read and understand health information. When that information includes words and numbers, that rises to 61%. This means important details, such as dosage and how to take medicines can be missed. 

Health Education England has developed a free, 35 minute, online health literacy course, designed for anyone working with or supporting patients, families and carers. Sign up today for the online health literacy course on the NHS e-learning for healthcare platform. Find out more about improving Health Literacy.


Become a healthy weight coach by taking a free eLearning course

Are you a healthcare professional looking to develop your skills or do you know someone in your primary care network who might be interested in new training?

Around two thirds of UK adults are currently above a healthy weight, and through the Personalised Care Institute's bespoke new course - which they are co-hosting in partnership with the Office for Health Improvement & Disparities and Health Education for England’s eLearning for Healthcare platform - you can train to become a Healthy weight coach and support people living with overweight or obesity to make positive changes to their health and health behaviours.

The role is a voluntary role with an additional set of competencies and responsibilities to a person’s existing role, and is open to anyone working within a primary care network who is interested in supporting people to prioritise their weight, health and wellbeing.

Complete the course...


Free online modules – Personalised Care Institute 

Choose from short 30-minute modules designed to introduce you to a range of personalised care curriculum topics, including core skills, shared decision making and personalised care and support planning. 85% of healthcare professionals recommend Personalised Care Institute courses.  


Personalised Care & Support Planning Training

Do you want to know more about Personalised Care and Support Planning? Would you like access to resources?

Hear directly from the people implementing Personalised Care and Support Planning and Personal Health Budgets at our next Community of Practice:

Tuesday 16th November 2021, 10-11:30am

This is the fourth of six sessions each focusing on one element of the ‘Implementation Framework’ for a personal health budget (PHB). This session will focus on Personalised Care and Support Planning. They are open to anyone thinking about developing their own PHB offer in children’s or adult’s mental health and /or learning disability and autism. Register here...


Addressing gambling related harms 

Gambling related harms is increasingly being recognised as a Public Health issue of concern. One indicator of this concern according to YouGov is that about 7% of the population of Great Britain are negatively affected by a parents, partners or child’s gambling. Please see the below events and resources about Gambling related harms: 


Enhancing Care for Older People Webinar Series

Wednesday 24th November 2021, 1.30pm-3.00pm

‘Goodnight, whoever you are’ Person Centred Dementia Care - Speaker: Mrs Barbara Dow, EnCOP Lead: Sue Tiplady, Senior Lecturer, Northumbria University

This session is FREE and open to all! Spaces can be booked via Eventbrite...


Reducing Health Inequalities in Healthcare Across the North East North Cumbria ICS

6th December 2021 from 09:30 – 12:30 (MS Teams)

The event will focus on addressing and reducing health inequalities in healthcare, showcasing practical examples from NENC ICS.

Find out more & book...


4th International Social Prescribing Network conference 10-11 March, 2022

Bookings are now open for the 4th International Social Prescribing Conference, 2022. Abstract submission is now open and will close on Friday 10 December at 5pm. SPLWs and social prescribing schemes can also submit an entry for the 3rd Social Prescribing Network Awards, celebrating people who are going above and beyond to support people with unmet needs through social prescribing.

The Care Home Education Support Service in Cumbria, and the Digital Services team who rapidly rolled out online consultations for patients at the start of the pandemic, are among the innovators shortlisted in this year’s Bright Ideas in Health Awards.

Both teams are part of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW).

Innovators that have helped to transform patient care over the last few years are to be recognised as the Bright Ideas in Health Awards finalists are announced.

Read the full article here...

Are you studying towards an academic qualification in Leadership, such as through an apprenticeship?

Would you like the opportunity to be part of an Action Learning Set? 

Action learning is a form of collaborative learning where a small group of individuals (an ‘action learning set’) meet regularly to reflect on real work issues.

Its basic philosophy is that the most effective learning takes place when individuals are faced with a real problem to solve. The aim of these meetings will be to help translate your learning into the workplace, and will be focused around the content matter of your study.

CLIC will be hosting some action learning sets in the near future. These meetings are open to anybody in the health and care system in North Cumbria who is currently doing any academic qualification or study in Leadership (for example: an apprenticeship).

If you are interested in attending a session please contact: info@theclic.org.uk 

 

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