Volunteers to specifically support teams to improve the quality of services that Walsall Healthcare offers are being urged to step forward and play their part in improving patients’ experience.

Patient Quality Improvement (QI) Partners are being sought by the Trust’s Patient Relations and Experience Team and they will have the opportunity to get involved in improvement projects across a range of departments and specialties.

Potential volunteers will be expected to attend a five-day QI course so need to be able to have that initial commitment ahead of the role itself which will take up to four hours each week to fulfil.

Andrew Rice, Patient Experience & Voluntary Services Manager, said: “This is an exciting role that puts volunteers at the heart of the improvements we want to make for our patients.

“Patient QI Partners – who need to be aged 18 and over – will support staff to make the changes that matter most. They will be trained in Quality Improvement tools and techniques by our QI Team and will be asked to support this consistent approach to making changes on all projects they support.

“We need people who are confident to express their views, who can listen and process a variety of viewpoints, are committed to improving services and motivated to help do so and have clear written and verbal communication skills. They need to be committed to this role, be dependable, and positive, with a willingness to work within a team. We are proud to be able to have developed such a role which we think will prove rewarding and satisfying for those who step up to it.”

Key tasks will vary – dependant on the area/division volunteers are involved with. They may include.

–          Representing the experience of patients within Quality Improvement work.

–          Being an ambassador for patient experience and engagement, identifying and recognising areas for improvement.

–          Promoting the Trust’s vision and values as a role model

–          Participating in observational exercises in departments and clinical areas.

–          Sharing their experience in accessing of services.

New volunteers will also need to go through the full volunteer recruitment process of interview, pre-volunteering checks and induction and anyone interested in applying – or finding out more – is asked to contact Gayle Johnston in Voluntary Services via 01922 721172 ext 7713.