The Orchards is one of our learning disability residential services in Thorrington, Essex, who have recently completed their first QI project. This project is the first for them of many, with their focus on improving facilities and environments in the local village for both themselves and the local residents.
Johnathon, one of our residents, came up with the idea after using the local bus shelter to visit his friend and realising how dirty, unpleasant and uninviting it was to use. He came back and spoke to fellow residents and the management team, they decided to come up with a plan to make a difference and improve it through our QI framework. This project was resident led by Johnathon, Daniel and David, with the support of Mark Rampton, Team Leader.
They tested a number of change ideas to try and solve the problem, which included litter picking, deep cleaning, painting the shelter and improving communication with the local parish council. Their aim was to improve the average satisfaction score for bus shelter users from “under satisfactory” to “good”. Their baseline data showed from those they asked that 80% felt dissatisfied to very dissatisfied. However, following the project 100% felt satisfied to very satisfied with the improvements. To ensure the results are sustainable they have also created a maintenance rota amongst them to keep it clean and tidy. Please see the Celebrating Successes learning poster below for more details
The Orchards Bus Shelter Celebrating Success Poster
They recently presented their project at our Annual Cygnet Celebrating Successes QI conference, as well as this video, debuting at the Cygnet National Nursing Conference and Awards. Mark Rampton, Team Leader, and Ollie White, Service Manager, have both commented on how it has empowered the guys to want to do more QI projects and have already begun their next, focusing on improving a local grassland area in the village. They are also now part of the local parish council meetings, where they are able to have their voice heard and input in to changes made in their community.
“I am so proud to have supported the QI project team at the Orchards and all that they have managed to achieve within this project. The short film they created really does encapsulate their QI journey through their own words. Not only have they successfully met their original aim for improving satisfaction for local users, they also have learnt a lot about their fellow peers, gained a voice and recognition in their local village and been able to use new skills with the support of each other. I am looking forward to seeing the results of their next project”– Haley Williams, Regional Quality Improvement Advisor (South)
“It was really good fun to give back to the community, and help other people out”– Daniel, Resident at The Orchards
“It made me feel quite good actually, that I was actually doing something. It has made me more athletic”-Johnathon, Resident at The Orchards
“This is going on every week, they are out there doing their bit. It was about giving back originally, but after a bit of time we have found their relationships with each other are a lot better. They are getting along better, communicating better, and that was the biggest reward for me”– Mark Rampton, Team Leader at The Orchards
“It has had a great impact on the gentlemen. They have been able to get involved in their local community and give something back. Its building up strong rapports we have with our community to let them know we are here. We are proud of our village, wanting to make a difference and it’s bringing those together through the QI project.”– Ollie White, Service Manager at The Orchards