Background ‘One team - one workforce’ – Need to have an agile clinical team that can work in all areas of the hospice, depending on the fluctuating demand. Ensuring that the staff have an in-depth knowledge and experience to enhance patients’ experience.

Aim To provide an innovative approach which ensures we have a flexible and agile workforce equipped with the knowledge and expertise to work across the Inpatient Unit, Community Care Unit, Virtual Ward and Community Team. In order to achieve this we need to develop;

• Skills and knowledge of workforce.

• Staff that are confident in transference of skills across Community, Inpatient unit, Community Care Unit and Therapies, enabling independent working.

• A better understanding and review of specific roles.

• Engagement with all stakeholders to enable cultural change, that demonstrate the hospice values, including the ‘One Team’ value.

Method How we achieved this;

• Daily 8.45 meetings consisting of Inpatient Unit/Community Care Unit/Therapies/Community and Virtual Ward, reviewing staffing levels and patient dependency. Decision making relating to movement of staff across services

• Staff shadowing colleagues in different areas.

• Rotational posts across areas.

• Internal progression of staff across all teams.

Results

• 3 staff members have had extended placements from the Inpatient Unit to the Community.

• The Community Team have been able to work on the Inpatient Unit when required due to sickness or increased dependency of patients.

• Team Leader from the Inpatient Unit has worked in the community at times of high level of workload.

• The Therapy team have been able to adapt where they are working depending on demand. They have also been able to provide assessments of patients and joint working with Community Team.

Conclusion Increased awareness of workload across all areas. Wider knowledge base for workforce, influencing the information being given to patients. Improved staff coverage during times of high demand. Appreciation of support between teams, with less silo working.