Themes and programmes
How we can help
The Improvement Foundation offers expert support to public service organisations such as primary care trusts, strategic health authorities, practice-based commissioning consortia, schools, local education authorities, local authorities and government departments to help them improve the service they provide.
We undertake work which will make a real difference to individuals and communities.
Our expertise includes delivering, and developing the capacity and capability for, quality and service improvement; training in leadership and quality improvement; spreading and sustaining improvement; service redesign; user-led quality improvement; engaging clinicians, frontline staff and communities; community development.
Our clinical chairs and advisors provide up-to-date clinical input to all our health work.
Working with us
We offer a wide range of programmes and training courses which can be individually purchased. We would be delighted to meet with you to discuss how we can help with your priorities, costs are available on request.
Our offer currently focusses on tackling inequalities, supporting service improvement and delivery, and building skills and knowledge.
We also offer bespoke improvement support, working with one organisation or a small group of organisations, often through our 10 regional centres.
Tackling Inequalities
The following three programmes focus on reducing inequalities, utilising our highly successful Healthy Communities work in areas with multiple deprivation, using social marketing approaches to empower members of the public to drive improvement in their own communities.
- Tackling Obesity Through Community Engagement
A 12-month national programme to improve the delivery of integrated obesity services in the community and in primary care. Utilising community engagement to improve prevention of obesity in children and enhance the effectiveness of general practice in impacting on individuals who are already overweight.
- Reducing Alcohol Misuse
A 12-month national improvement programme to reduce alcohol misuse through improved identification of alcohol use, adoption and implementation of an evidence-based screening and brief intervention tool in general practice, and to help commissioners redesign an integrated pathway for alcohol services.
- Improving Cervical Screening
Implement rapid uptake and implementation of cervical screening programme utilising the advantages of community engagement and social marketing approaches.
- Primary Care Mental Health Programme
Improve the care of adults of working age with common mental health disorders in primary care and reduce worklessness. To include stepped care access to psychological therapies.
Supporting Service Improvement and Delivery
- Integrated Care Programme (Unique Care Model)
Deliver reduced admissions through improved integration. In areas already implementing Unique Care the number of unplanned admissions for the whole population of over 65s has been reduced by 20% with a 40% reduction in bed days.
- Reducing Healthcare Associated Infections Out of Hospital
Bring together teams from PCTs, Nursing Homes and Care Homes with local communities to tackle infection rates in a 12-month improvement programme. Address antibiotic prescribing in primary care.
- Primary Care Access & Responsiveness
Practical support of a Rapid Improvement Event to consider all aspects of responsiveness: availability, convenience, patient experience and effectiveness. Will assist with extended hours agenda and allow for ‘back to basics’ access training if required.
- Improving Access and Responsiveness in BME Communities
Create flexible models of responsive and accessible primary care for black and minority ethnic groups, following the recommendations of Professor Mayur Lakhani’s recent review that identified a significant proportion of BME patients struggle to get the healthcare they need. This programme will utilise our social marketing and community engagement approach.
- Improving Sexual Health Services
A 12-month national redesign programme to improve the responsiveness of sexual health services in terms of access and convenience, based on adoption of good practice models and improved partnership working between primary care and genito urinary medicine (GUM) services. Taking account of inequalities.
Building Skills and Knowledge
- Advanced Commissioning Programme
Only university-accredited course improving capability and capacity of Commissioners to deliver World Class Commissioning. Provides a practical, skills-based focus throughout a full commissioning year.
- Tailored support for delivery of WCC
Design, development and delivery of bespoke WCC programme in response to needs and priorities identified by PCTs. Modules to support each of the WCC Competencies.
Support development of commissioning through engagement with clinicians and redesign of commissioning systems. National training events with national speakers and breakout sessions that will include reducing emergency admissions and delivery of 18 week waits.
- Service Improvement Training
Locally delivered programme of quality improvement skills training and development - gives participants the skills to drive forward service improvements in their organisation.
- PCT Service Redesign Masterclass
Expert clinical speakers and practical skills Masterclass for individual PCTs to include providers and commissioners and focusing on a specific service area for redesign tailored to local needs.
- Leadership for Service Improvement Programmes
University-accredited programmes, based on four years of running successful leadership programmes, providing the leadership skills and confidence required to take forward improvement work.
National Education Breakthrough Programme
Out of healthcare, our National Education Breakthough Programme has successfully run for five years, and over 150 Primary and Secondary Schools have now benefitted from it. We are currently recruiting for more schools to join the programme - please contact us for further information.
Further information
In addition, for 2008-09, we are offering three all-inclusive packages of support to PCTs which are targeted to support delivery of the NHS operating framework for 2008-09. PCTs are invited to choose the package that best suits their needs.
This website gives an extensive overview of our programmes and work, and offers a wide range of resources, including case studies and links. Please contact us if you would like any further information.