Both a challenge and an opportunity around the provision of clinical supervision and support for nurses working in general practice, in care homes where they may be working in isolation, and in the CCG where they may be working in teams with non-clinicians.

Challenge of nurses working in isolation from each other in care homes and in GP practices, may not have much contact with others apart from monthly training meetings if this is available to them.  Nurses may not be able to access training and development if they are in an environment that is short-staffed, or where employers don’t see the value of this.  In addition the challenge of nurses working in a non-clinical environment providing clinical oversight and support.

Opportunity to provide some clinical supervision support, enabling nurses to network and to reflect on their practice and ways to improve patient outcomes and patient safety as well as improving their own practice and developing professionally.  Also an opportunity to develop a platform to allow nurses who may not be able to engage in a face to face manner to engage virtually and be able to access the most up to date information and connect with colleagues.

To provide small groups (6-8 nurses per group) with face to face clinical supervision. For 12 months. Supported virtually by a Hybrid group app. There will be 2 groups;            Group 1 – managers, Group 2 – non managers. The proposal is that group 1 will have additional training, to enable them to cascade their skills to others, supporting junior staff, providing on going supervision, making the proposal sustainable after the 12 month timeframe. 

The sessions held by a clinical psychologist for 90 minutes 8 weekly. The focus will be to support those nurses who have little or no day to day peer support and for senior nurses who have supervisory roles within their place of work, to be given much needed and valued support.  Clinical supervision is the formal process for professional support and learning which enables individual practitioners to develop knowledge and competence, assume responsibility for their own practice and enhance consumer protection and safety of care. At present Wolverhampton CCG recognise there is a gap in the provision of clinical supervision for these individuals, within the CCG, primary care and the care home sector.

To provide a hybrid app that aligns to the CCG practice, primary care and care home nurse pages with links to clinical guidance, training opportunities, latest news and bulletins and will also allow staff to connect with each other if they wish to do so.

There are a number of benefits:

·         Promote safe, high quality practice.

·         Reduce isolation in nurses working in primary care and the care home setting.

·         Promote resilience within qualified staff, boosting moral and self-worth.

·         Provide support to senior nurses working in the CCG who currently have no supervision of their own but are supervising others.

·         Encourage self-supporting supervision within workplaces and between workplaces.

·         Encourage networking between nurses working in different settings.

·         Encourage the exchange of best practice and ideas.

·         Promote co-working between practices and homes as well as with the CCG.

·         Share concerns and work towards solutions. Bringing together new concepts and sharing best practice ideas.

 

This will be measured by

 ·         Number of participants

·         Quantitative and Qualitative feedback (verbal and written evaluation)

·         Sustainability – cascading of information to other professionals and formation of broader group network.

·         Increase in moral and self- worth. Staff no longer feeling isolated.