Case studies

Case study 1: Becklin Ward

Becklin Ward wanted to focus on embedding a new peer support worker role into their team, bridging the gap between staff and service users.

To design their project idea, the project team worked closely with the wider staff group and with the support worker to understand what the peer support worker role could look like, and how it could best benefit staff and service users. In order to ensure co-production with both staff and service users, the team designed a questionnaire into which service users could input that asked how they felt about the types of activities currently on offer, as well as how safe and cared for they felt on the ward.

Based on engaging with both staff and service users, the team decided to set up a peer support group on the ward - facilitated by the peer support worker - enabling more supportive interactions between service users, and between service users and staff. The team ran four support groups, jointly delivered by staff and the peer support worker, each focussing on a different theme. After each group, staff and service users were invited to share reflections on how useful the group had been, and what they might like to change for the next one. The plan is for these groups to continue on a regular basis.

The project has helped bring the ward team closer together. It has also enabled staff to better understand service users, in turn making service users feel more validated by being listened to and hearing each others' experiences.

Case study 2: Baildon Ward

Baildon Ward started with the question: how can the team work together more effectively to support each other, so that everyone feels welcome, valued, and a sense of belonging? This aimed to help each person strengthen their own mental health, and to create a ward culture where people feel safe to be their authentic selves.

Baildon implemented a "wellbeing check-in" during daily handovers, facilitated by the nurse running the meeting. During a check-in, each person would share what went well during their shift and who they want to recognise or thank for good work. They also began inviting religious leaders to facilitate community meetings so they could help everyone better understand each other's religious practices.
 The team also developed a "get to know me" board to help staff learn about each other. They got input on the board design from staff and patients, and then asked each staff member to submit a photo and fun facts about themselves. Lastly, the team is building an idea board with support from their QI lead. Staff can share an issue they're experiencing, and then it can be documented on the idea board in the ward manager office, along with a potential solution that ward leadership can consider for implementation.

Based on feedback at staff and community meetings, team members feel more listened to and appreciated, and service users like learning more about the team through the "get to know me" board, because it humanises everyone. Staff and service users are also starting to better understand each other's religious practices. 

Case Study 3: Glyme Ward

The team on Glyme Ward, at Littlemore Mental Health Campus in Oxford, has embedded a wellbeing check-in at staff handover and in monthly supervisions in order to support one another’s welfare and ability to respond to the demands of caring for vulnerable patients on medium secure forensic ward.

The team uses a red, amber, green and blue magnet system to communicate their emotional and regulatory capacity day-to-day and allocates tasks to one another in alignment, no questions asked.The result is a better experience for staff, increased teamship and improved responsiveness with the patient groupThe team also uses a solution focused grading tool in their monthly supervisions to facilitate a wellbeing conversation for every staff member.

Results have been really positive so far, and the team continues to track the impact. Colleagues have described the techniques as some of the most impactful Quality Improvement work seen on the ward in recent years