St Charles Improvement Programme
Beginning this Autumn 2024, the St Charles Programme aimed to ensure that the services provided to patients by staff are the best they can be. The programme is being led by a monthly programme Board and a fortnightly meeting at St Charles Hospital. The programme is well underway and progressing effectively.
Some of the key areas of the programme include:
- Workforce Development: Working with ward managers and consultants to hold co-production workshops with staff. Also reviewing training needs and supporting with recruitment.
- Ward Environment: Co-producing redecoration of ward environment with staff, service users and carers.
- Stakeholder Communication: Holding listening events with stakeholders including service users, families and staff.
The programme has been well received by staff and carers alike. In the first three months of the programme, a review of staff training has taken place to ensure staff are well equipped to deliver high-quality care to patients. Staff have visited the Shore Ward to gain insights about what is working on the ward and will use them to improve other services at St Charles.
Quality Improvement (QI) approaches have also been implemented across several wards at St Charles. Danube Ward have participated in a ‘Culture of Care’ programme which was created by the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (NCCMH). The programme looks to create a culture of care on the wards that staff can apply. Other wards have also participated in a Therapeutic Observation and Engagement Improvement Collaborative. This initiative was launched in November. This will also use a QI approach to reduce the frequency and duration of close observations and to improve the therapeutic engagement of those being observed.
