Growing Q

Please note – the recruitment window for Q across the South West has now closed. It is expected that the next recruitment activity will be during 2018.

Please go to the Health Foundation’s Q website where you can register for more details  www.q.health.org.uk or alternatively go the Health Foundation’s main website and follow the links for Q www.health.org.uk/programmes/the-q-intiative.

Following the success of the Q Asset Mapping survey in June, which looked at and identifying capability in improvement skills and interest in quality across the region, the South West Academic Health Science Network (SW AHSN) is now one of three regions to launch a pilot for the Growing Q recruitment initiative.

Q already has over 400 members across the UK, and is growing. There are ambitious plans to develop the community even further through the network of the regional AHSNs.

What is Q?

• A diverse community of people working in improvement in health and care across the UK which complements other national and local work
• Making it easier for people leading improvement work to share ideas, enhance their skills and make changes that bring improvements to health and care
• Raising the profile of improvement work and contributing to creating an environment where improvement can flourish and grow
• Led by the Health Foundation and supported and co-funded by NHS Improvement, with support from SW AHSN

What benefits does Q Community offer?

• Provides a ‘Home’ for members to turn to with a diverse range of improvers
• Raises the profile of improvers and their work
• Gives access to a range of resources including on-line materials, national and regional events and activities, workshops, networks and sharing activities
• Provides opportunities for sharing ideas, enhancing skills and collaborating on improvement work
• No membership fees or time commitment

Be being part of Q, what are my responsibilities?

• Take improvement back to the workplace and help to spread and share learning beyond Q
• Contribute to building relationships and networks
• Contribute to the community where possible – attending events, engaging with newsletter and, in the future, the online platform and social media
• Be polite, respectful, constructively challenge and feedback

Find out more about the Q Community – an interactive PDF here

What is Q? Brochure  – here

Is Q right for me right now? A Decision Tree – here

Joining Q  –  Frequently Asked Questions – here

How do I become a member of the Q Community? 

An online application process will be taking place in the South West during November 2016.

Please use the following link https://aims.health.org.uk/register. This will direct you to the application portal where you can register and submit an application to Q.

Applicants will be asked to reflect on and describe their experience, commitment and understanding of improvement work. We are deliberately looking for a wide range of experience across all parts of the Health and Care system.

Further Guidance for Applicants available here

How to use the online system available here

What support is available to assist me with my application?

The SW AHSN are offering a number of events and activities during November to support Q applicants

These include:

Event – Mercure, Exeter, 08 November, 09:30-11:00

Event – Health & Wellbeing Centre, Truro, 15 November, 09:30-11:00

Webinar 1 – 17 November, 11:00-12:00

Webinar 2 – 22 November, 14:00-15:00

Webinar 3 – 01 December, 11:00-2:00

For more details and to register for any of the above events and webinars, click here

When will I hear the outcome of my application? What are the next stages?

Applications will close at midnight on Monday 05 December 2016. All applications will be reviewed and considered before any final decisions are made, with applicants notified of the outcomes in mid-February 2017.

A regional welcome and onboarding event will take place in central Exeter in late March 2017. More details will be available in due course.

Who can I contact if I have any questions?

Please feel free to contact Jo Redgrave, Project Manager for Growing Q jo.redgrave@swahsn.com. Alternatively, please contact any member of the SW AHSN team or any current Q members.

You may also find it helpful to visit the Health Foundation website for more background information about Q http://www.health.org.uk/programmes/the-q-initiative