In 1994, the trust embarked on a project to provide patients with better care. There are four main elements to
this patient-focused service model:
1 Decentralised services – bringing services to patients rather than patients to services.
2 Co-ordinated care teams – who work together across disciplinary boundaries to meet patients’ needs.
3 Multi-skilled staff – who are able to carry out the majority of care at the patient’s bedside.
4 Pathways of care – a written plan of care that each patient with a specific problem or condition can follow.
The trust has made significant changes to the whole team structure, but in particular has introduced a team
assistant support role, covering domestic, portering and food regeneration functions. This is an expanded
ward housekeeping role, which is accountable to the ward sister. It provides a career structure entry point for
those who wish to progress through the NVQ route to statutory training.
Contact: Emma Shipley, training & development manager and Margaret Best, director of nursing