Developing a Strategy and Change Ideas (Working Well Handy Guide)
In this step you will will bring together everything you have learnt as a team about how things are and where there is opportunity for improvement. This will inform your strategy about what will have the greatest impact on staff experience and wellbeing.
Nominal Group Technique
Find out how to use one of the most popular group engagement techniques in quality improvement, the Nominal Group Technique. This is a quick and easy way of generating ideas in a group in a way that allows everyone to be heard.
Top Tips from Enjoying Work Project Teams
Below are some top tips for looking after yourself and your team which some of the 40+ Enjoying Work project teams from across ELFT have tested out. These might be things that you want to test with your own team.
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Your local QI Coaches and Improvement Advisor are here to walk you through this guide and help you apply the methods. Click here to find these people in your directorate.
QI/QA Department ‘tests’ remote working
On Friday the 13th March (was that a sign?) we conducted our first ‘test’ of total remote working. Little did we know then that this way of working would quickly become the norm for millions of workers across the globe. It became apparent that we would need to do a longer test. So, based on our learning from the first day we then ‘tested’ remote working for one week from the 16-20th March.
As with all improvement work we first developed our theory and asked a series of questions with predictions (Table 1.) predicting that if we used social platforms and software (‘MS teams’, ‘WebEx’ and ‘MS SharePoint’) appropriately we would be able to communicate and operate as normal.
Table 1. We asked a series of questions and made predictions
How did we do this?
We used the Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) approach which informed our learning
1st test cycle – ‘one day of remote working’
Plan: Plan the test, including the plan for collecting data
We want to work remotely for one day
We predict that the team would accept the challenge to work remotely.
- Who: The QI team ( 17 members).
- What: Use virtual platforms such as WebEx and MS teams to enable virtual meetings and remote working
- When: 13th March
- How: conduct one ‘business’ meeting in the morning for QI team using MS teams and a second ‘social’ meeting in the afternoon for both QI and QA using WebEx
- Data collected: Number of team’s members accepting invitation; feedback from team; review of technical issues.
Do: Run the test on a small scale
What happened?
- All team members who were present at work attended
- Some technical difficulties were experienced but resolved in real time
- Both sessions lasted 30 mins
- Morning session for business, afternoon session – social connection and fun
- Team asked about their experience and would they be willing to test a week of remote working
Study: Analyse the results and compare to the predictions
- Conducted on time and successfully
- Minimal issues with technology but resolved quickly
- All staff happy with suggestion to test for week
- Established key learnings (fig. 1)
Act: We can adapt, abandon, adopt – plan for our next test for week commencing 16 March 2020
Figure 1
Our 1st challenge for our daily ‘15 minutes of fun’- wearing your silliest hat to the meeting
2nd test cycle – ‘one week of remote working’
On Monday 16th March we planned and conducted our second ‘test’ of total remote working but this time for one week. Globally, more and more organisations were doing the same and there was an abundance of literature being circulated to inform remote working (we have provided some links)
Plan: Plan the test, including the plan for collecting data
We want to work remotely for one week
We predict that the team would accept the challenge to work remotely.
- Who: The QI team (17 members).
- What: Use virtual platforms such as WebEx and MS teams to enable virtual meetings and remote working
- When: 16-20th March
- How: conduct one ‘business’ meeting in the morning for QI team using MS teams and a second ‘social’ meeting in the afternoon for both QI and QA using WebEx. Develop weekly objectives with the team for work allocation. Use SharePoint for document collaboration. Assign a ‘host’ for each meeting.
- Data: Number of team’s members accepting invitation; feedback from team; review of technical issues. Feedback from team using ‘menti.com’ survey to enquire what went well? What didn’t and what we could do to improve?
Do: Run the test on a small scale
What happened?
- All team members who were present at work attended
- Some technical difficulties were experienced but resolved in real time
- Both sessions lasted 30 mins
- Morning session for business, afternoon session – social connection and fun
- Conducted a menti.com survey at the end of week
- Progress of the objectives for the week were monitored daily and changed as priorities changed.
Study: Analyse the results and compare to the predictions
- Conducted on time and successfully
- Minimal issues with technology but resolved quickly
- Staff reported fatigue with back to back meeting, risk of loneliness and that some felt there may be a risk of micro-management
- Overall it was reported that remote working was going well however, there were concerns expressed over long-term sustainability and staff wellbeing
- Established key learnings (fig. 2)
Act: We can adapt, abandon, adopt – using the key learnings from the test on what we can do to improve (fig 2.)
Figure 2
As we move forward continuing this unknown dynamic journey, it seems we will be continuing our remote working for some time but going forward will adopt the suggestions to improve.
The team were also asked in as few words as possible word what would you suggest to others embarking on remote working, the team said….
Some further highlights…
After works drinks ‘pub’ quiz using Pareto chart
Group exercise – Day 3 ’15 mins of fun’
Lunch portrait – Day 2 ’15 mins of fun’
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How to trigger gratitude in ourselves and others
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Action for happiness
Action for Happiness helps people take action for a happier and kinder world. Let’s take action to look after ourselves and each other as we face this global crisis. We may be physically apart, but we can still be together.
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Do you sit on your desk all day?
Simple desk based exercises from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy that you can try.
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NHS ‘One you’
Being healthier is not just about doing the right thing – it’s about making changes to fit your lifestyle and make you feel good.
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How much do you exercise?
The NSH Live well have created some physical activity guidelines for adults aged 19 to 64
Adults should do some type of physical activity every day. Any type of activity is good for you. The more you do the better.
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Every mind matters
Every Mind Matters is a free NHS resource that has lots of advice and practical tips for looking after your mental health.
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Your mind plan
“Your Mind Plan” quiz to help get the most useful top tips and advice for how you are feeling
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The free mindfulness project
Mindfulness exercises focus on bringing awareness to the process of breathing. As something that we are doing all of the time, watching our breath allows us to come into the present moment and practice being aware.
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Mindfulness meditation
Mindfulness meditation is a practise that can impact positively on both mental and physical health. Research has shown that it can help reduce stress, improve sleep and increase focus. There are plenty of free to access mindfulness resources available online via The Free Mindfulness Project and Headspace
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Mental Health and Wellbeing support for our BAME communities
Liberate Meditation have partnered with the NHS to provide staff free access to their meditation and mindfulness app. The app offers culturally sensitive and diverse meditations, curated for the BAME community, by the BAME community, aiming to reduce anxiety, alleviate stress and promote rest.
All NHS staff have access to this resource via the NHS People site>>>
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ELFT Wellbeing Resources
Wellbeing advice for ELFT staff covering many areas or work and home life.
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