The Improvement Coaching Programme (ICP) is a 6 month professional development programme. Quality Improvement (QI) Coaches at East London NHS Foundation Trust have ring-fenced time in their jobs to support QI work in their directorates.

What is a QI Coach?

Role

• Coaching QI teams within directorates, meeting with the team regularly
• Deeper knowledge of improvement methods and tools
• Support the development of directorate structures and processes for QI

Responsibilities

• Help engage people and teams in QI
• Support project teams to develop ideas and strategy, using QI tools, and advise on how to complete project documentation
• Support project teams in using QI methodology, including PDSA cycles and data over time
• Provide monthly update on team progress to sponsor
• Teach and explain use of QI tools and methods
• Attend supervision with QI lead locally, and Trust-wide support sessions

The Training Programme

The training course lasts approximately 6 months, in this time all participants meet for three workshops over a total of 7 days. In between these participants will also join regular webinars and learning sessions for individualised coaching, feedback and support. 

ELFT have run seven cohorts of this training, Cohort 1 in 2015/16, Cohort 2 in 2016, Cohort 3 2017, Cohort 4 in 2018, Cohort 5  in 2019, Cohort 6 in 2020/21, Cohort 7 in 2021/22,  Cohort 8 from 2022, Cohort 9 from 2023 and Cohort 10 from October 2024. We train a new cohort of QI coaches every year, if you’re interested in becoming one please speak to your local Clinical or Service Director. Our next cohort is number 9, the dates for which can be found below: 

Cohort 10 Workshop Dates (October 2024 – March 2025)

To sign up for this training programme you must be available to join at least one induction session, all workshops and learning sessions from October 2024 to March 2025. Our dates and venues will be:

• Workshop Days 1 & 2: 1st & 2nd October 2024 9am-5pm – NCVO, London 
• Virtual Action Learning Set 1: 4th November 2024, 10am to 12pm
• Virtual Action Learning Set 2: 10th December 2024, 10am to 12pm
• Workshop Days 3 & 4: 21st & 22nd Jan 2025, 9am-5pm – Hampton Hotel, Luton Airport
• Virtual Action Learning Set 3: 18th February 2025, 10am to 12pm
• Workshop Days 5 & 6: 18th & 19th March 2025, 9am-5pm NCVO, London

If you are interested in applying for the role of a QI coach you should have already attended Pocket QI and the Improvement Leaders Programme so that you have a good foundational knowledge base of QI. If so, please have a conversation as soon as you can with your line manager regarding the coaching role’s time commitment (around a half-day per week) and whether they will support your attendance at the course for all workshop and action learning set dates. 

We welcome applications from service users and carers so if you are interested in this paid role please have an initial conversation with your local People Participation Lead about what the role entails. 

To get a feel for the role and to understand what is expected, link in with existing QI coaches and QI sponsors in your directorate. Attending your local QI forum (if you don’t already do so) is a good way to see what QI projects are underway in the directorate.