Enabling clinicians to become the quality leaders in a mental health service

To show how clinicians can become the leaders of 'quality' in a mental health services, using the example of developments within Northern Sydney Health (NSH) Area Mental Health Services (AMHS).

In the absence of an existing integrated area quality programme, NSH AMHS implemented a quality improvement programme whereby staff at the coalface would become the leaders in 'quality' guided and supported by the newly established Quality Unit. This innovative approach is consistent with evidence that suggests that clinicians need to 'own' quality improvement initiatives and embed them into everyday practice, rather than see them as the role of a designated 'quality' person/s.

Within 12 months the service trained over 100 clinicians in Clinical Practice Improvement (CPI) methodology and currently has over 20 CPI projects with an identified measurable outcome. As well, it has provided over 200 staff with in-services on quality improvement approaches and trained 45 staff in root cause analysis. Training of eight clinicians in the use of the Minitab statistical package has allowed data analysis and charting to identify opportunities for improvement.

The handing of 'quality' back to clinicians of the AMHS has provided a framework for improved outcomes for patients and carers. This approach to service improvement is transferable to other mental health services.