COLLABORATIVE WORKING

A specialist neurological care centre is adopting a new model of working for their therapy and care teams to work more closely than ever before, as a means of maximising client outcomes and broadening the skills and knowledge of staff.

Care and therapy collaboration maximises client outcomes

Sue Ryder Neurological Care Centre Lancashire has launched its Collaborate project, to give both its therapists and carers the opportunity to work together in the care of clients, giving valuable insight into each client’s wider care. And as well as delivering care in the most collaborative way possible, optimising client outcomes at the specialist site, the therapy and care teams are both able to learn about the other’s roles in the client journey - overcoming the ‘them and us’ perception that can exist between teams, and offering valuable new levels of involvement to carers and healthcare assistants in particular. Collaborate has been welcomed by staff and clients alike, with clients having input into the project since its pilot stage in September last year, to ensure they felt it was working for them; feedback has included therapists using overly technical language that clients could not easily understand. Now established as a new way of working in the Preston care centre - which opened in 2020, during the height of the first wave of the pandemic - its positive impact continues to be felt. “We looked at the drivers for change, as it Neuro-rehabilitation there is no standardised pathway. We did a piece of work to look at best practice, underpinned by evidence, and from that we knew we wanted to achieve a more collaborative approach,” says Hannah Halliwell, head of therapy at Sue Ryder Neurological Care Centre Lancashire. “We strongly believe that we need to make every contact count, and the evidence shows that by working in an inter-disciplinary way, you can achieve better clinical outcomes, which delivers benefits for both clients and the workforce. “Initially, the driver was around patient outcomes, but this is also enabling us to create an empowered, up-skilled, more inclusive team, which we believe will help us with staff retention and the fact they want to come to work. “Our aims are based around the core values of Sue Ryder, which is to be supported, connected and impactful, and we felt that this project was fulfilling these.” Carers at the centre have been fulsome in their praise of the project, which is allowing them to become more involved in client therapy, broadening their role further. “Because therapists do a different job to carers, there used to be a bit of a 'them and us' feel at work, simply because we didn't really overlap or work together that much,” said carer Michelle Worswick. "Since the project was introduced we are definitely working more as a team. “For example, the therapists have shown us how to do gentle stretches with the clients so before we start daily routines like washing and dressing, we can do the stretches and then it becomes much easier to lift up someone's limb to wash them or get their jumper on. "I think this approach is definitely better for the clients.” Hannah agrees with this, and is pleased with the impact it is having on the team. “I know some of our healthcare assistants feel their voice is being heard now, which for us as a service is so important. For me personally, I feel very strongly about this.

We spend a long time building relationships and working in collaboration, and we want our healthcare assistants to feel invested in this,” she says. “Now, they are playing a much greater role in the goal-based therapy than ever before, they become aware of these goals at a very early stage and then work in collaboration in how to achieve them. Healthcare assistants are a vital part of this journey and have an awful lot to offer in Neuro-rehabilitation. “We have had to break down some barriers, as historic ways of working do still exist - some of our AHPs have embraced it straight away, whereas others have taken longer. We are investing and supporting our workforce to make this cultural change. “It’s very much a work in progress and something we are going to continue to develop, but as well as the views of our staff, the patient voice is very much embedded in this project.” Indeed, the centre has been keen to consult its clients throughout, acting on feedback to refine its service delivery to ensure it is giving optimum care. Sue Struthers spent 14 weeks in the centre after sustaining a spinal injury, and played a role in helping to shape Collaborate. “My carers used to come in and do everything, but with the Collaborate project, some of the rehab team would come in for the morning as well,” she said. “They would help with the showering and dressing, and do some warming up exercises to loosen my limbs, and get me to help with rolling over and lifting the legs. “I felt it worked well, as both sides of the organisation got to know how the other worked. “It was good from the carer’s side, as the rehab team were showing them exercises that would help them with their work in the long run, and explain what they were doing, and why they were doing it. “And equally, the carers could show the rehab team how they were carrying out washing and personal care, and show them easier ways to move patients. “Carers work very closely with patients, spending time with them all day every day, so they know what eases the pain, and what exacerbates the pain.” Sue also noticed some issues with the project, which she was able to point out to staff along the way. “One negative I noticed was I felt that the rehab team were using too many technical terms, which meant patients and carers couldn’t always understand,” she said. “I suggested it would be better if they talked more in layman’s terms, which made it easier. “Patients aren’t always able to verbalise what they want, but the patient voice in the process was a very important part of the project. “I think the patient should always be taken into account, and I think it’s very important to not be considered as just another number. We should be treated holistically, and listened to carefully. “It’s important to still feel valued, no matter what your condition.” Hannah says: “The patient voice was really valuable, as we were able to hear things we hadn’t thought of. Through consulting like this, we were able to gain a fuller picture of our practice. “Sue Ryder has a strong service user participation strategy and I think this really fulfils that and shows our commitment to it - our clients were central to the development of Collaborate, from the start of the pilot stage, and we’re really pleased with what we have created so far.”