QI 114 Providing Immediate Staff Support Following a Difficult Incident

Abstract

Aim: Reduce the percentage of staff who felt not supported at all following a difficult incident from 21% to 10% by October 2023. Within the specialist assessment and treatment learning disability inpatient services at Brooklands, staff are subject to and witness to high levels of physical violence towards others, towards the environment and self-injurious behaviour. The team wanted to ensure that staff were receiving the right support at the right time following a difficult incident by developing a robust process for providing immediate support. The team looked at incident data and gathered staff feedback. The team then developed a set of guidance for staff to support them in providing this support and in recognising when and how to signpost colleagues to further support where needed.

Tools Used: PDSA Cycles - https://aqua.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/qsir-pdsa-cycles-model-for-improvement.pdf; Driver Diagram - https://aqua.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/qsir-driver-diagrams.pdf; Sustainability Tool - https://aqua.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/qsir-sustainability-model.pdf; SPC Charts - https://aqua.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/qsir-statistical-process-control.pdf; Project Charter - https://aqua.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/qsir-define-your-project-charter.pdf.

Project Impact: The new guidance promotes consistency and provides a structure to the process which was not previously in place. The percentage of staff who felt not supported at all following a difficult incident reduced from 21% to 15%. Staff feel 26% more confident to provide support following an incident. Improvements are being made to staff well-being through feeling supported and valued. The percentage of staff who felt a bit supported or very supported following an incident increased by 5%. Awareness of additional support (TRiM) has increased by 31%. The improvements link with Trust policy and align with the Trust drive to be trauma-informed. The improvements contribute to a culture of openness.