Solent NHS Trust’s Staff Wellbeing Initiative shortlisted for Patient Safety Awards
Solent NHS Trust is delighted to announce that its new initiative for supporting colleagues following an incident or near miss, The Ripple Model, is a Finalist for the Staff Wellbeing Initiative of the Year at this year’s HSJ Patient Safety Awards which recognises safety, culture and positive experience in patient care, celebrating its worthy finalists on a national scale.
Solent’s nomination was one of a record-breaking 515 entries to this years’ HSJ Patient Safety Awards. The high volume, and exceptional quality, of entries, are an indicator of how well the Ripple Model was received.
The Ripple Model is a trauma informed, reactive approach to supporting NHS colleagues immediately following an incident or ‘near miss’, with swift access to impactful support, acknowledging that individuals experience trauma differently. Whilst Solent, like other NHS organisations, has always been proud of its wellbeing support, this approach leans on the research from crisis situations that can trigger PTSD, such as war and natural disasters, creating a true wrap around level of support that is ongoing and available whenever needed.
Dr. Dan Baylis, Chief Medical Officer at Solent NHS Trust, said “As a leading community, learning disability and mental health Trust, working across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, we take research and quality improvement extremely seriously, acknowledging that we can change the experiences and safety of patients and colleagues in real-time. Nationally the NHS acknowledges that the impact of trauma on our people is a potential risk to safety, for both them and our patients. Solent was already at the front of trauma informed patient care and now The Ripple Model, designed to provide immediate and ongoing practical support, is ensuring the best outcomes for our people too. We are incredibly proud to have our wellbeing offer acknowledged as the impactful and informed approach it is.”
At this first stage of judging, Solent’s nomination had to meet three clear criteria; clinical and specialist excellence; enacting organisation-wide change and service/system innovation.
Pauline Jeffrey, Head of Quality and Safety at Solent NHS Trust, researched and design the Ripple Model. Asked about her focus on the wellbeing of NHS colleagues, she said “Supporting our staff when they have been involved in challenging or traumatic events at work is a key focus for me and my team. The Ripple Model was developed and implemented to pull together the wide range of support options available to Solent staff into one framework and introduce an easy way to access this support. The introduction of facilitated peer support sessions for teams following difficult incidents has provided practical and sensitive conversations about the emotional impact on staff and how they can move forward in a positive way. I am proud to see this work recognised and hope to build on this success by sharing the Ripple Model across the NHS.”
Following the thorough judging process to date, Solent NHS Trust was shortlisted, ahead of the official awards ceremony to be held later this year in Manchester on 18 September. Those nominated are at the forefront of safety, quality, and clinical excellence, who work towards transparency and innovation in the field of patient safety.
Winners will be announced during the awards ceremony at Manchester Central, on September 18 2023.