Help shape our services, volunteer as an Improvement Partner

Your experience adds invaluable insight to help us innovate and improve.

Improvement Partners make a real impact on patient experience, quality and safety through:

Helping make sure patient experience and safety is at the forefront of all we do
Involvement in patient safety improvement projects
Membership of investigation oversight groups
Join our improvement collaboratives on a variety of important topics such as supporting reducing infections and getting people home quicker.

Why Join?

Challenge yourself and us – bring fresh perspectives.
Be bold and innovative – lead change for better healthcare.
Enhance patient experiences – play a pivotal role in our mission.

This is a voluntary role working alongside nurses, healthcare professionals and doctors. Expenses are covered and a small allowance can be claimed for use of home office equipment.

I’m interested – how do I apply?

If you wish to register your interest, please contact [email protected]

We welcome applications from all our current and/or former patients, as well as carers and general members of the public wanting to influence healthcare delivery or have experience of NHS safety work.

What is the role of a Partner?
Improvement Partners are people who are interested in helping us improve our services. The main purpose is to be a voice for patients, families and communities and to help us focus on what is important for everyone. You don’t need to be from a healthcare background.

What kinds of projects will I get involved with?
Quality and safety for our patients is our absolute priority.

Examples of areas that have previously needed support include;

– A short-run improvement project in paediatric theatres.
– Being part of a group to look at getting people home from hospital quicker.
– Taking part in a review of our investigations.
– Looking at specialities managed together, such as Head and Neck services which include Ear and Nose Surgery, Hearing (Audiology) and Mouth, Jaws, Face and Neck Surgery.
– Attend governance meetings looking at patient experience, safety and risk, reviewing documentation including policies, reports, complaints and compliments

Will I have any support?
Yes. We will support you in your role and ensure you are provided with the information and advice you need.

You will be supported by the Improvement Partner Programme Team and become part of the partner community. You will be allocated a buddy, who will talk about the aims of the group, explain technical terms and answer questions you may have.

How much will I get paid for this role?
Roles are voluntary, however, out of pocket expenses are covered which can include reimbursement for caring responsibilities which need to be fulfilled by someone else. A small allowance can also be claimed for use of home office equipment.

What training will I receive?
You will need to complete mandatory training and an induction. These sessions will help you in your role and may be useful in other roles you choose to take on. The sessions will include information on our approach to governance and safety at Leeds Hospitals alongside data protection, fire and infection safety.

Depending on the role and your experience and knowledge further training will be provided as required.

What is the time commitment?
At present we are looking for around six hours per month. However, this is negotiable depending on your circumstances and will be discussed and agreed on an individual basis.

How long will I hold this role for?
Your placement will be reviewed after one year. After this review you may continue in this role, step down or may be offered a different role within the organisation.

Do I need any experience?
Experience is not essential. However, we ask that you have a genuine desire to support patient experience and safety improvement. We are looking for people who represent the needs and interests of users of our services. You will need an awareness of the experiences and perspectives of our communities. For example, people that find it difficult to access health services because of financial issues, health conditions or accessibility needs.

How will my work help the NHS?
You will be the voice of the public, ensuring that our Trust is focused on patients, service users, carers, families, and prioritising patient experience, quality and safety in all that they do.

Do I have to live locally to Leeds?
No, this is not essential. However, you need to be able to travel to Leeds Hospitals main sites including LGI and St James’ Hospital for face-to-face meetings, training and briefings/debriefings.

Who should apply for this role?
First and foremost, you should be interested in supporting patient experience, quality and safety, and passionate about helping the NHS. That is the chief purpose of this role.

We encourage applications from everyone, regardless of age, gender, ability, sexuality, ethnicity, or any other protected characteristic. We believe a diversity of voices and experiences will help us to understand and achieve more.
If you require any support with your further interest, please contact partner programme email [email protected]

If you want to know more watch the animation below.

Quality Improvement partner

I’m currently a Quality Improvement (QI) Partner at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, but before taking on this role, I worked on patient experience initiatives. It was through this work that I first learned about the role of QI Partners. After receiving an email and visiting the website, I saw an opportunity to get involved in improving processes and services, not just for patients but also for medical staff. Given that I’m a transplant patient with over 27 years of experience, this felt like a meaningful way to give back and make a real difference, rather than just talking about issues.

The induction process was very thorough, and the training I received was excellent. I chose to join the Infection Prevention Collaborative (HCAI Faculty), and although I was initially nervous at my first meeting, I was quickly made to feel welcome by the medical professionals in the group. I was able to share my experiences as a patient and also learn about the work they were doing. One project I got involved with was a questionnaire developed by a doctor to assess and improve the processes surrounding cannula and catheter care. I was invited to assist with data collection by visiting different wards and asking questions, which I found both enjoyable and insightful.

This experience was incredibly valuable. Not only did I have the chance to contribute to improving patient care, but I also gained a greater understanding of what goes on behind the scenes in healthcare. Working alongside medical professionals, I realized how much I didn’t know about the complexities of healthcare processes. My background in process management allowed me to bring a different perspective to the team. While the medical experts provided the clinical knowledge, I offered the patient experience, and together we were able to work on improving care.

One thing I’d highlight is the need for more partners who can dedicate time, enthusiasm, and a genuine interest in helping to improve services. If that sounds like you, I’d encourage you to apply – I’m sure the team would love to hear from you!

Meet our Partners

Below you can read more about the work our partners have been involved in and the difference they have made in our hospitals.

Dolf

“I became a partner as I wanted to give something back to the organisation who have looked after me and my family when I had two serious spells in hospital.

I am involved in a variety of areas, for instance the Discharge Collaborative, where I work with a group of different healthcare staff, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and data managers. We are trying to get patients home quicker and earlier in the day so they can recover in the comfort of their own homes and also free up much-needed beds.

I see my role as ‘outside eyes’ to Quality Improvement projects, representing what patients might find important and also using expertise from my previous career. I find that the staff treat me as an equal and listen to my views, which makes being a partner a very satisfying thing to do.”

Liz

“I joined the Falls Collaborative after my mother’s death due to a fall whilst in care, and because of my experience as a patient and carer and also with my lifelong career in nursing.

The aim of this enthusiastic, committed multi-professional team is to reduce falls and the impact of harm to patients, their families and staff. The team has produced a video to raise patients’ awareness of the risk of falls when in hospital.

My role is that of a ‘critical friend’ to help improve and contribute to the development of new initiatives. I feel my views are welcomed and valued by the team. The success was demonstrated by a significant reduction in falls pre-Covid and this was recognised by winning a Patient Safety Award.”