Emergency Department staff were invited to apply for the role of Health Improvement Champion, and in June 2023 the Health Improvement team welcomed 28 staff.
These multi-professional staff have been given protected time for Health Improvement training – a full day for an induction followed by half a day quarterly for updates.
The induction day explored the following concepts:
- What it means to be a champion
- The local context
- Wider determinants of health
- Screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment
A combination of small group teaching and lectures in the morning provided underpinning theory before opportunity was given in the afternoon to perform brief interventions in simulation.
As a part of the day our Champions were encouraged to write their own roles and responsibilities, and in return were able to suggest ways that the Health Improvement team could support them in their role.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Be an advocate for Health Improvement, change and the implementation of new ideas
- Be approachable and have knowledge to signpost staff and patients to services
- Be willing to start conversations about lifestyle, wellbeing and Health Improvement
- Make every contact count
Support and Supervision that you will be offered:
- Quarterly training sessions to provide updates and learning
- Clinical supervision with Health Improvement teams to discuss cases
- Supervision on the shop floor in providing brief interventions
We are currently in the process of writing our Health Ambassadors programme, which will be offered to external staff. This will be launched in 2024 and advertised via the DREEAM courses portal.