Culture of Care

Culture of Care is one of the largest quality improvement projects ever undertaken by NHS England, a national project that started just over 18 months ago. The project is built around 12 co-produced standards of care to improve patient experiences and outcomes and those of the staff that work alongside our patients. As well as the 12 standards, it is also built on three pillars, those being, Anti Racism, Trauma Informed and Autism Aware.

 

Culture of Care Standards

Vision: People to be consistently able to access a choice of therapeutic support, and to be and feel safe. All care is trauma informed, autism informed and culturally competent

 

1. Lived Experience - We value lived experience
2. Safety - People feel safe and cared for
3. Relationships - High quality and trusting
4. Staff Support - Present alongside distress
5. Equality - We are inclusive, value difference and promote equity
6. Avoiding harm - Actively avoid harm and traumatisation
7. Needs Led - We respect people's own understandings
8. Choice - Nothing about me without me
9. Environment - Spaces reflect the value we place on our people
10. Things to do - Requested activities everyday
11. Therapeutic support - We offer a range of therapy
12. Transparency - We have open and honest conversations

You can read more about the Culture of Care project and what is involved here: NHS England » Culture of care standards for mental health inpatient services.

 

What's happening at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS trust?

Currently within the Trust's Adult Mental Health inpatient services we are trialling the project on four wards, two at Highbury (Redwood and Rowan 2) and two at Sherwood Oaks, (Elm, and Fir).

The Culture of Care programme is really proactive in involving carers nationally, as it is recognised how important working with carers is, this is something we are committed to within the Trust. There is a big push on ensuring the presence of carers at ward community meetings and patient review meetings (ward rounds) as we know that their knowledge and insight is invaluable. There is also a plan with the matrons and head of nursing to 're-vamp' the patient forums at each hospital site. Ideally, we would like carers to have input into the agendas for these meetings, so will work hard to make sure their voices are heard, even when they are unable to be present.

Some of the other important work that is being done within Culture of Care is around patient ward rounds, in which carers views are not always heard as they could or should be. Our aim is to work with patients and carers on how we support discharge, prevent readmission, and promote onward recovery. There will be a big focus on improving the communication with carers, remembering that they are the people that know our patients the best.

Currently, we have a carer peer support worker that works across both wards at Sherwood Oaks and is heavily involved in the Culture of Care programme and change ideas for both wards, ensuring that things are seen through a carers lens.

We are hoping to be able to recruit to a similar role at Highbury Hospital in the near future. Before this role is filled, Andrew Gale, Participation Lead, Culture Of Care, is planning to set up a bi-weekly 'Carers café' - aimed at the carers supporting patients on the Redwood and Rowan 2 wards at Highbury. One will be during working hours, and the alternate one will be in an evening to try and capture as many carers as possible. This will be held at an informal venue, hopefully in Nottingham centre, to make it as accessible to people as possible, and also hopefully the option to join via online methods.

Through the Culture of Care programme, the ward project teams attend regular training and support sessions and also some face-to-face conferences, where they are able to liaise and network with other trusts. Through this process, there has been some collaborative work in relation to ensuring carers are at the forefront of our culture changes, and also learning from other trusts about how they are including carers in their work, such as setting up carers' groups.

 

How can you get involved?

We are always looking for patients with lived experience, and their carers and families to help us improve our services. See our Involvement Opportunity to register your interest in this project. For more information, contact Andrew Gale, Participation Lead, Culture of Care Programme andrew.gale@nottshc.nhs.uk.