CAREERS
Tamsin Newton Snow is a freelance journalist RESOURCES CQC inspections tinyurl.com/ CQCinspectionregime RCN guidance tinyurl.com/CQCinspect
Pooling creativity can be the most effective way to solve an organisation’s problems, explains Jane Redfern Jones
Many heads are better than one for coming up with ideas Brainstorming in a team can help develop ways of working by generating a large number of ideas for solving a problem. It can also enhance group work and team morale. Brainstorming encourages you to use your creativity. Once in the habit of using it regularly, it will give you an endless flow of ideas for your work and the confidence to suggest and accept change. It is a popular method of group interaction in education and workplace settings, and works well with as few as three or as many as ten or even 15 people. One of the most important things to do before a brainstorming session is to define the problem. Make a list of everything that will be different when the problem is solved. Brainstorm at least three ways to tackle the problem, trying each one until you find a solution that works. Focus on quantity – generate as many ideas as possible. Resist criticising ideas raised; welcome even seemingly outlandish suggestions – they might turn out to be the best – and make sure you record everything that is said. Electronic brainstorming can be ISTOCKPHOTO
nurses, nursing students and healthcare assistants. Staff could also speak in private to inspectors and contact them anonymously. Listening events are held on the first day of inspection for local people to give their views on care. Ms Johnston says the focus groups were well attended and staff appreciated the fact that practising clinicians were looking at their work. The CQC found Camden and Islington to be well led, with caring and compassionate staff. Several services were praised, such as physical health checks for inpatients and crisis houses that help to reduce acute admissions. Some areas for improvement were noted, including reducing ligature points risk in acute inpatient wards, and more timely sharing of lessons learned from untoward incidents. ‘Inspectors took the views of staff seriously,’ says Ms Johnston. ‘Inspections are a big deal for everyone and although we may not like them, they are there to improve services’ NS
Deadfblind patients Sense, the organisation for deafblind people, has published a report on deafblind patients’ experience of audiology services and hearing technology. The report contains insights and recommendations relating to the needs of deafblind people that can be applied to all services and are relevant to commissioners, managers and clinicians. Recommendations based on the results of this study include use of technology and access to information and services aims. www.sense.org.uk/audiologyreport Bereaved staff The conciliation and arbitration service Acas has published guidance to help employers and managers support staff during a bereavement. Acas says bereavement can be
undertaken using email, Facebook, Twitter or a dedicated chat room. A lead person sends the question to group members, and responses can be compiled and sent back to the group for further feedback. Embrace change – as a result of your brainstorming session, you might decide to make changes a little at a time. However, revolutionary ideas are often more effective if you suggest one big change. Do not fear failure either. Any new direction exposes you to risk and there are no guarantees your brainstorming session will produce a positive result. At the very least, it will demonstrate you are proactive. You will find that even eminent nurses experienced setbacks before making breakthroughs NS Jane Redfern Jones is a nurse and writer RESOURCES Brainstorming ideas www.visualthesaurus.com Making mind maps www.mind-mapping.co.uk
challenging to manage in the workplace – employees might need to take time off unexpectedly, their performance could be affected or they might be temporarily unable to perform certain roles. Maintaining a compassionate and supportive approach shows that the organisation values its staff. tinyurl.com/AcasBG District nursing The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) Carers Project aims to appoint a number of nurse champions. The QNI is looking for nurses who have a passion to make a difference to the lives of carers. Interested nurses can find out about how to support carers by attending a free nurse champion day on November 19 in London. Refreshments and lunch will be provided. To book go to tinyurl.com/QNINCDs
NURSING october 29other :: voluses 29without no 9 :: permission. 2014 65 DownloadedSTANDARD from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 15, 2015. For personal use only. No Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
Tamsin Newton Snow is a freelance journalist RESOURCES CQC inspections tinyurl.com/ CQCinspectionregime RCN guidance tinyurl.com/CQCinspect
Pooling creativity can be the most effective way to solve an organisation’s problems, explains Jane Redfern Jones
Many heads are better than one for coming up with ideas Brainstorming in a team can help develop ways of working by generating a large number of ideas for solving a problem. It can also enhance group work and team morale. Brainstorming encourages you to use your creativity. Once in the habit of using it regularly, it will give you an endless flow of ideas for your work and the confidence to suggest and accept change. It is a popular method of group interaction in education and workplace settings, and works well with as few as three or as many as ten or even 15 people. One of the most important things to do before a brainstorming session is to define the problem. Make a list of everything that will be different when the problem is solved. Brainstorm at least three ways to tackle the problem, trying each one until you find a solution that works. Focus on quantity – generate as many ideas as possible. Resist criticising ideas raised; welcome even seemingly outlandish suggestions – they might turn out to be the best – and make sure you record everything that is said. Electronic brainstorming can be ISTOCKPHOTO
nurses, nursing students and healthcare assistants. Staff could also speak in private to inspectors and contact them anonymously. Listening events are held on the first day of inspection for local people to give their views on care. Ms Johnston says the focus groups were well attended and staff appreciated the fact that practising clinicians were looking at their work. The CQC found Camden and Islington to be well led, with caring and compassionate staff. Several services were praised, such as physical health checks for inpatients and crisis houses that help to reduce acute admissions. Some areas for improvement were noted, including reducing ligature points risk in acute inpatient wards, and more timely sharing of lessons learned from untoward incidents. ‘Inspectors took the views of staff seriously,’ says Ms Johnston. ‘Inspections are a big deal for everyone and although we may not like them, they are there to improve services’ NS
Deadfblind patients Sense, the organisation for deafblind people, has published a report on deafblind patients’ experience of audiology services and hearing technology. The report contains insights and recommendations relating to the needs of deafblind people that can be applied to all services and are relevant to commissioners, managers and clinicians. Recommendations based on the results of this study include use of technology and access to information and services aims. www.sense.org.uk/audiologyreport Bereaved staff The conciliation and arbitration service Acas has published guidance to help employers and managers support staff during a bereavement. Acas says bereavement can be
undertaken using email, Facebook, Twitter or a dedicated chat room. A lead person sends the question to group members, and responses can be compiled and sent back to the group for further feedback. Embrace change – as a result of your brainstorming session, you might decide to make changes a little at a time. However, revolutionary ideas are often more effective if you suggest one big change. Do not fear failure either. Any new direction exposes you to risk and there are no guarantees your brainstorming session will produce a positive result. At the very least, it will demonstrate you are proactive. You will find that even eminent nurses experienced setbacks before making breakthroughs NS Jane Redfern Jones is a nurse and writer RESOURCES Brainstorming ideas www.visualthesaurus.com Making mind maps www.mind-mapping.co.uk
challenging to manage in the workplace – employees might need to take time off unexpectedly, their performance could be affected or they might be temporarily unable to perform certain roles. Maintaining a compassionate and supportive approach shows that the organisation values its staff. tinyurl.com/AcasBG District nursing The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) Carers Project aims to appoint a number of nurse champions. The QNI is looking for nurses who have a passion to make a difference to the lives of carers. Interested nurses can find out about how to support carers by attending a free nurse champion day on November 19 in London. Refreshments and lunch will be provided. To book go to tinyurl.com/QNINCDs
NURSING october 29other :: voluses 29without no 9 :: permission. 2014 65 DownloadedSTANDARD from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 15, 2015. For personal use only. No Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
