The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority
30 September 2020
12 submissions from NI trusts in the running for Q Exchange funding !
Q Exchange, Q’s £600,000 funding programme, is now open. Funded by the Health Foundation and NHS England and NHS Improvement, it offers Q members the chance to develop project ideas and submit bids for up to £30,000 of funding.
Applicants have the opportunity to refine and develop their ideas with the help of the Q community through a collaborative online process.
This year Q is seeking project ideas on the theme ‘Embedding positive changes emerging through new collaborations or partnerships during COVID-19.’
Up to 30 projects will be shortlisted and will go forward to the Q community vote where Q members vote on which projects receive funding. The winners will be announced in March 2021.
NI Submissions by Trust
Northern Trust
- Developing a Clinical Health Psychology pathway for ICU trauma patients
Collaboratively developing new processes, pathways and resources to support staff and ICU patients experiencing trauma following their stay.
- Virtual Care Home Multi-Disciplinary Team
Our community Nurse will carry out a virtual weekly multidisciplinary ward round with residents in care homes across East Antrim using a digital platform.
- An Inclusive Communication App for Service Users and Professionals
Developing a new App to reduce inequalities of those who struggle to communicate. This will aid assessment, communication of fears etc. during a time when masks are required.
- Interactive Maternity Care for Teenage Mums to Be
Creation of an interactive App to engage teenage Mums To Be in a multi-disciplinary programme of maternity care within the context of the challenges of COVID-19
- AHPs and Families: Working together to communicate better
Progress and develop online resources for families accessing AHP services in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust to support their ongoing needs effectively whilst minimising face to face contact
Belfast Trust
- Supporting Teams to Deliver Compassionate Care
To roll out the use of a compassionate care bundle across the Trust co-produced by Mental Health inpatients and Ward staff
- Improve Staff Wellbeing: Creative Activity & Displays In Staff Safe Spaces
This project is to increase the amount of creative arts opportunities for staff to engage in to increase their enjoyment and sense of wellbeing
Southern Trust
- Support services for children with a disability and their families
The project is designed to support families and stop children with a disability being admitted to the care system when normal support systems are disrupted or withdrawn.
- ‘Embedding positive changes emerging through new collaborations/partnerships during COVID-19’
Create a website for Preoperative Assessment Department that is a virtual Preoperative Assessment Clinic – enabling patients to easily access all the key pieces of information they need to prepare.
- Community Living Hub to prepare care-experienced young people live independently
Prepare care experienced young people for independent living by linking them with established community supports and equipping them with skills to maintain tenancies while promoting positive physical and emotional health
South Eastern Trust
- Delirium Prevention and Management in COVID 19 Patients
Evidence shows COVID affects the brain and patients have developed Delirium. We plan to increase awareness and spread a Delirium tool Trustwide to reduce risk of mental health associated complications
- Develop an Early Help knowledge Bank for Child & Family Support
Develop a live library of resources and information to improve connections & relationships between Gateway and C&V sector to optimise opportunities & benefit children & families in need of Early Help
Cross Border Collaborations: the HSE National QI team with the HSCQI Hub
- Coaching for Resilience- Building on our inner strengths
Coaching can both foster personal/ professional growth and enhance resilience; COVID has revealed the need to enhance resilience until organisations can address root causes of burnout and stress.
- Walking our way through COVID: Using QITALKTIME Podcast series
The QI Podcasts aims to capture the personal stories of people who work in and use our health services .This will be a collaboration of 2 health systems and build on the existing links between the HSCQI Network and National QI team.
- Listening Differently- Enhancing Communication in times of crisis
We aim to develop a training programme to enhance participants listening and communication skills, in order to improve team working, safety, quality of care and staff experience.
Find out more about the entries on
See how NI previous Q exchange Winners are getting on….https://hscqi.hscni.net/qi-community/q-community/q-exchange-2020/