Competition win for CWPT’s Improvement Team
Last week Laura Smith, Acting Lead Improvement Coach, won a poster competition at the AMaT Conference for leading a project to embed improvement boards across the Trust's learning disability and autism inpatient services.
The improvement boards were accompanied by regular staff huddles, to empower teams to identify and implement changes within their service to deliver quality care.
What initially started as a project to increase engagement in improvement activity on one of the units spread across all wards at Brooklands Hospital, leading to an impressive 250% increase in engagement, with 12 improvement projects initiated and 11 'quick wins'.
Addi Parkinson and Sarah Cutler from the Improvement Team attended the event and collected the prize on Laura's behalf.
Laura said; "It was a lovely surprise to learn I had won the poster competition for the Quality Improvement category at the AMaT Conference, for my improvement board project.
"The improvement boards help to facilitate improvement conversations, enabling staff who are closest to the problem to talk through it with their colleagues and work towards a solution, testing small changes and observing the impact with the support of the Improvement Team. This way of working encourages staff at all levels to engage in regular conversations to improve the care they provide for patients, share their learning and celebrate their successes.
"This project has been very important to me because not only did it form my final dissertation for my apprenticeship degree in 2024, but it also contributed to the improved CQC rating for Brooklands Hospital. Receiving recognition for the work I've done with the staff at Brooklands means a lot to me; it keeps me motivated and supports our mission to inspire a 'Movement for Improvement', building courage to learn and share ideas across the Trust."
Laura's project wasn't the only success of the day, as a further 4 improvement project posters were shortlisted for the competition, showcasing the excellent work happening in services across CWPT.
Congratulations to Laura, and everyone who was shortlisted!
