Wellbeing Support for Residents & Staff
Helping residents and their families to feel safe and re-engineering processes for better efficiencies.
Theme: Developing the Workforce and Promoting a Positive Culture
Cohort 14
Project Title
Wellbeing Support for Residents & Staff
Aim
To develop a tool which can be multi-purpose and used for both residents and staff.
Description of the Intervention
Participants initially identified improving staff morale as the focus of their Quality Improvement (QI) initiative. Participants reflected on the significant impact that prolonged COVID-19 restrictions had on care home teams, recognising that many staff continued to experience fatigue, stress, and emotional exhaustion as a result of the challenges faced during the pandemic.
Initially, the group aimed to develop an initiative centred on staff wellbeing. However, during the Discovery phase of the project, participants engaged in conversations with residents to better understand their experiences of living in a care home. A pivotal moment emerged when one resident identified the feeling of being “safe” as the most important aspect of their care home experience. This insight prompted the group to reconsider the scope of the project and recognise that wellbeing is a shared experience that extends beyond staff to include residents and family members.
In response, Cohort 14 broadened the focus of the initiative and adopted a more holistic, relationship-centred approach. Through a process of co-production, the group worked collaboratively with residents and staff to design a Wellbeing Support Evaluation Tool. The tool was developed to facilitate meaningful conversations about wellbeing, identify areas requiring support, and strengthen relationships across the care home community.
Changes Implemented
The Wellbeing Support Evaluation Tool was designed for use at multiple points throughout the care journey and staff experience, including admission processes, care reviews, staff induction programmes, appraisal discussions, and team meetings. By embedding wellbeing conversations into routine practice, the initiative aimed to promote psychological safety, enhance communication, and support a culture where the needs of residents, families, and staff are recognised and valued.
Key Learning
This project highlights the importance of co-production in quality improvement and demonstrates how listening to the lived experiences of residents can reshape improvement priorities, resulting in interventions that are more inclusive, person-centred, and sustainable.
