Valuing the Voices of Young PeopleWalter Tann

Divisional Lead Nurse, Quality & Patient Experience.

What do all these things have in common?

Who is this?

What did these guys do?

Would you do what these two did?

What was the significance of this date?

18th September 2014

370 beds (potential)

271 beds (commissioned)

8 dedicated Neonatal/Paediatric theatres (plus 4 shelled theatres)

41,511 patient episodes

61,000 A&E attendances

120,000 Outpatient attendances

Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital

In the beginning …….

There was nothing.

• Established November 2002 • In response to Youth Engagement Structure within the then

Manchester Children’s Hospitals.• Members where consulted on various projects both corporately and

from individual wards and departments.• Run by members – Chair, minute takers.• Senior staff attend to support and

held to account .

Background

• Over 64 members 11-21yrs of age.

• Monthly meeting 5-7pm.

• Average meeting attendance 20.• A growing portfolio of activities and projects now covering

most aspects of healthcare.

• Youth Ambassador – available for consultationon any issue.

• Youth Governor created as part of Foundation status.

Youth Forum Today

• Who is best placed to tell us what it feels like to be a child or young person in hospital ?

• Provide a voice for young peoples’ thoughts on health issues and services provided within the hospital.

• Influence Trust Policy and procedure.

• Create meaningful links with decision makers both in the Trust and in local health service provision.

• Act as a conduit for feedback from other young people.

Function of Youth Forum

• Influenced the design of old RMCH OPD.• Full consultation of new RMCH – design, configuration, services• Influenced numerous art projects.• Involvement in public consultations and awareness events.• Presentations at Grand Round.• Involvement in Transition projects.• Consulted on re: mobile phone policy.• Created @RMCHosp.• Consolation with Professional bodies to develop patient and young

peoples engagement strategies – RCPCH, GMFS.• Influenced trust website.• Participated in numerous service specific workshops.• Annual meeting with CEO and Chair.• Participation in the creation of the Trust’s Vision document “Children &

Young People’s Nursing : Vision into Reality”.

Youth Forum - Projects

• Participation in the National Youth forum through RCPCH.

• Full participation in the Greater Manchester Healthier Together Consultations.

• Overwhelming desire to engage with service users and clinical staff on a regular basis.

• Could the Youth Forum become fully embedded within clinical teams to support service design, delivery and monitoring of outcomes?

• Direct link to Ward Managers, Matrons, Lead Nurses – Buddy System.

• Direct link to patients.

• Development of a Work Plan linked to key issues – nutrition, information, discharge, infection control, communication.

Youth Forum – 2014 & beyond (part 1)

Priorities and Collaborative Working Proposal

2013/14

Infection Control 

Engage the support of

children and young people in

the dissemination

and monitoring of infection

control practices.

 Matron V

YF Member

o Hand washingo Basic hygiene

standardso Cleaningo Bare Below the

Elbow. 

Suggested Matron activities o Participation in Divisional

Infection control meetingso Observational auditso Service user feedbacko Specific initiatives –

standards for bedsides, dress code, hand hygiene.

o Place assessments Youth Forum Activities Life size hand washing

posters with YP. Design of literature. Undertake an infection

control project including: ward rounds to challenge staff who do not comply with policy / best practice, participate in PLACE assessments and contribute to ward accreditations.

 

For discussion and agreement by Youth

Forum 

What do you need to be assured that we

have achieved what we wanted to and changed

what we wanted to change: Information, reports, visits, and

inspections?

Strategy Initiative Matron

Buddy

Youth Forum Link

Issues Activities Measures (how do we know we have achieved

our goal)

Youth Forum – 2014 & beyond (part 1)

• Full participation in PLACE assessments.

• Participation in the Trusts Ward Accreditation scheme.

• Sit on the Trust’s Children & Young People’s Standards Steering Committee.

• Contribute in the hospital’s CE Committee.

• Attend Transition Steering Group meetings.

• Creation and implementation of the Youth Forum’s 15 Steps Challenge.

Youth Forum – 2014 & beyond (part 2)

Observations Recommendations/suggestions Not acknowledged by any nurses when went

into the ward, patients or visitors, wouldn’t have known where to go or what to do.

• No obvious information about visiting times.

• More welcoming by having decorations hanging from the ceiling.

• Lots of colourful posters of characters like Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog in the playroom

Put more children’s' character posters around the ward instead of just in the playroom.

Welcoming & Ward first Impression

Youth Forum – 15 Steps Challenge

Caring and involvement

Observations Recommendations/suggestions 

• Good communication between patients and staff, very positive feedback from family.

• Mum felt completely involved in her baby’s care and

had received lots of information about every aspect of a child‘s care.

• Friendly staff, team work present in the ward.

   

No recommendations/Suggestions

Youth Forum – 15 Steps Challenge

• RMCH Youth Forum has had continuous success over 12 years.

• A fantastic journey of discovery in partnership with young people.

• True commitment and curiosity from all professionals.

• Passion and dedication on the part of the members to see real change.

• Members have been a vital pillar to the foundation of our Trust.

• RMCH & CMFT are extremely proud of all of it’s Youth Forum Members

• Privilege to see members grow into adulthood and move onto new ventures.

Youth Forum – Summary

“Vision without action is merely a dream.

Action without vision merely passes the time.

Vision with action can change the world.”

And Finally……