32 Leading innovation and improvement. (12th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gondhalekar, Mohan; Chaplin, Rob; Paget, Sarah; Parker, Eleanor; Ford, Jennifer
• Is Part Of: BMJ leader. Volume 2(2018)Supplement 1
• Page Start: A13
• Page End: A13
• Publication Date: 2018-11-12
• Subjects: Medical personnel -- Periodicals; Leadership -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Practice -- Management -- Periodicals; Health services administration -- Periodicals; 610.68
• DOI: 10.1136/leader-2018-FMLM.32
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2398-631X

Abstract

Abstract : The Royal College of Psychiatrists' Centre for Quality Improvement (CCQI) is responsible for working with healthcare organisations, including local NHS Trusts from all over the UK, to help promote the principles of quality improvement at the local levels. Hence, the CCQI has set up several Quality Networks (QNs) and Accreditation Services in order to help it achieve this ambition. One of the QNs that has been set up is the Quality Network for Old-Age Mental Health Services (QNOAMHS).The QN offers old-age mental health inpatient units an opportunity to have Developmental Peer Review Visits, which focus on quality improvement and learning within a warm, safe, friendly and non-judgmental environment. Member organisations provide clinicians, who then take part in these Developmental Peer Reviews all over the UK. This enables expertise to be shared and examples of poor patient care and patient safety issues to be identified, raised and remedied early, without needing to wait for the CQC inspection to take place. This is good for both patient care and professional development. There are also opportunities to develop clinical leadership skills for trainees and consultants through participating in the developmental peer review process. There are opportunities for member services to eventually gain accreditation, which demonstrates a degree of excellence and attention to detail that the organisation can be proud of. QNOAMHS also holds annual forums where pertinent topics within Old Age Psychiatry can be discussed and knowledge can be shared amongst clinicians. As a trainee, participating in the QNOAMHS developmental peer review and accreditation process taught me important leadership skills such as self-organisation, planning, managing time when chairing review panel meetings and delivering feedback which is honest but collaborative in its style, so that the cycle of continuous improvement prospers at all times.