2010 Canterbury DHB Quality Improvement and Innovation Awards

Mentor Information

Background Information
Aim
Mentor Role
Mentor Support Skills
Feedback: Mentorship Support
Mentor Training Information/Guidelines
Registration

Background Information
The Expression of Interest stage and formal establishment of the Mentor role to support entrants complete the Project Template and enter the Canterbury DHB Quality Improvement and Innovation Awards was piloted and integrated into the 2007 Awards programme. The need to introduce an Expression of Interest stage resulted from feedback sessions held with the Canterbury DHB Quality and Patient Safety Council members, Assessors, Planning and Funding Contract Managers and 2005 and 2006 entrants’ survey results.

These feedback sessions identified some barriers experienced by entrants which prevented them submitting their quality improvement or innovation project into the Canterbury DHB Quality Improvement and Innovation Awards programme. These barriers included:

The limited knowledge/resource available to complete the Project Template document.

The ability/resource available to collect data and conduct surveys to evaluate their quality improvement initiative or innovation.

The support and encouragement required to guide entrants through the Awards application process.

Hence these entrants did not have the opportunity to showcase their quality improvement or innovation and gain wide recognition for their work by entering the Canterbury DHB Quality Improvement and Innovation Awards programme.

All entrants receive feedback from the Assessment panel and previous entrants also acknowledged that although it was beneficial to gain feedback from Assessors, these comments would have been more useful during an earlier stage in the project process. Thus by utilising Mentors available through the Canterbury DHB Quality Improvement and Innovation Awards programme, entrants are able to utilise the Mentor’s experience, support and guidance to strengthen their project. This mentoring and support structure will also assist with the channelling of projects into other external awards programmes.

Aim
The Expression of Interest stage of the Canterbury DHB Quality improvement and Innovation Awards assists in identifying additional support entrants may require to complete the Project Template. The aim of the Expression of Interest stage of the Canterbury DHB Quality Improvement and Innovation Awards is to capture a greater number of quality improvement or innovation projects occurring across the Canterbury DHB by providing additional support to project teams requiring assistance with their entry.

The Expression of Interest forms are not assessed/marked. Completed Project Templates can also be submitted anytime between February 2010 and 30 July 2010 without the completion of an Expression of Interest form.

Mentor Role
The role of the Mentor is to assist entrants who have submitted an Expression of Interest form and to provide support and guidance for the next stage of the awards process (the submission of the completed Project Template-Deadline Friday 30th July 2010).

Mentors allocate various levels of support and time as required by individual entrants and play a significant role within the Awards process as they share their knowledge, experience and skills and support entrants by undertaking such roles as:

Take responsibility for contacting the project team to confirm that the project is at a suitable stage to progress into this year’s Awards programme.

Assist the entrant in ensuring that the guiding prompts provided in the Project Template document are considered and responses are included.

Assist the entrant with ways to link the project results to the objectives, highlighting trends and key success factors and sustainable measures. This may include data collection and conducting surveys.

Direct entrants to the resources available that will assist with their completion of their Project Template such as the utilisation of project tools, previous projects loaded onto the intranet site and contacting previous entrants.

Support and encourage the entrant and provide feedback on material for inclusion in the Project Template.

At the end of the process provide feedback to the Corporate Quality and Risk team on the Mentor role (e.g. how the process worked and how much time was dedicated to the process).

Mentor Support Skills
We are looking for people with experience in project work and facilitation skills and the ability to assist entrants complete the Project Template and assist with the evaluation of project work.

Feedback: Mentorship
“Without the mentorship and help provided I don’t believe that this project would have got as far as the quality awards. We were very well supported and encouraged.”

2007 Canterbury DHB Quality Improvement and Innovation Awards entrant

"Providing mentorship guidance to one of the projects entered into the 2007 Canterbury DHB Quality Improvement and Innovation Awards programme was extremely rewarding. The experience enabled me to learn about not only the project but also a different area of healthcare. I provided encouragement and guidance to the project team and felt I had made a valuable contribution to their success in the awards programme.

Through their participation in the Canterbury DHB Quality Improvement and Innovation Awards and close involvement with mentor support the project team stated that they had learnt new skills in both project and quality management which will strengthen any projects they wish to undertake in the future".

Mentor, 2007 Canterbury DHB Quality Improvement and Innovation Awards

Mentor Training Information/Guidelines
Please contact Gillian Pearce for information on the Mentor Training sessions and Guidelines.

Registration
Through their acceptance of this additional workload and dedication of their valuable time, Mentors make a significant contribution to the success of the Canterbury DHB Quality Improvement and Innovation Awards programme. They also have the opportunity to learn about and become involved in some of the quality improvement or innovation projects taking place within the Canterbury DHB. The role of a Mentor provides a fantastic opportunity for staff to be engaged in a positive professional development experience and to grow networks throughout the Canterbury DHB.

Due to the work commitment involved we seek the approval and endorsement from Line Managers to release individuals to undertake the Mentor role for the 2010 Canterbury DHB Quality Improvement and Innovation Awards programme. It is the responsibility of the Mentor to liaise with their Line Manager to seek their approval to be released from duty in order to undertake this role. Any backfill that is required to release staff must be funded through the divisional cost codes and arranged at the discretion of the Line Manager. If you wish to become a Mentor then please complete the Mentor Support Application Form and return either via post, fax or email to:

Gillian Pearce, Project Facilitator, Corporate Quality and Risk, Canterbury DHB, 5th Floor, The Princess Margaret Hospital, PO Box 1600, Christchurch.
Fax: 03 337 7718
gillian.pearce@cdhb.govt.nz