Volunteers needed to tell us your first impressions of our patient areas

We are looking for volunteers, carers, former service users, service users and staff to take part in the 15 steps challenge and help make a difference to service users, carers and staff.

We need you to tell us your first impressions within the first 15 steps of walking into a patient area (ward and/or rehab unit). Tell us your initial thoughts, observations, what's working well and where improvements can be made to help us improve our services.

The 15 step challenge was developed by the NHS Institute of Innovation and Improvement and comprises of a team of three participants who visit wards unannounced to determine the first impressions from a service user and carer perspective.

The challenge team will assess the ward against these four criteria:
•Welcoming
•Safe
•Caring and involving
•Well organised and calm

All visits are visited on rolling programmes which are unannounced.

Following each visit, the ward receives an action plan based on the recommendations made. When the wards are revisited, the assessors will have a copy of the action plan from the previous visit to see if changes and improvements have been made.

If you would like to take part and find out more information, please contact Mark Quested, Administrator (corporate nursing team) on 01622 722192 or email mark.quested@nhs.net.

Alternatively you can sign up via our public website by completing the online form.