Menu
close
Menu
close
I originally worked in adult disability services in Fife where I learned about the role of an OT and decided it was the profession for me. I returned to full time education and qualified as an OT in 2002. I started my early years in practice in adult mental health services and adult social work services.
I then joined the Children & Young People’s Occupational Therapy Service (CYPOT) in 2005 and moved into my current role in 2018. This was when my Quality Improvement journey commenced!
I began using QI in children's services in 2018 as part of a Scottish Government literacy practicum. Since then, through implementing QI principles, we’ve identified key areas for improvement and engaged AHP teams in data-driven decision-making. We initiated QI projects aimed at creating universal access options for requestors to support self management through advice, expert reassurance and signposting.
The impact has been profound: we've seen reduced wait times in OT, increased family satisfaction, and are fostering a culture of collaboration. QI has transformed our thinking, making continuous improvement a shared goal and empowering everyone to contribute to better outcomes. (AHP’s – OT, SLT, PT)
We have three QI projects underway.
• OT based QI project focused on streamlining requests for assistance (referrals) to provide timely access to universal, targeted and individual outcomes.
• We have Whole Family Wellbeing funding to take an existing collaborative QI project to spread. The project focuses on improving developmental outcomes of 2 year old children through enhanced daily play and interactions at home and in early years settings.
• Supporting early language & communication using QI to develop bespoke change ideas, test using rigorous methods to capture learning and impact to support children who are not making the expected progress for their age and stage.
Taking the time to understand your systems and ensure you have nailed your aim before doing anything - we can be quick to jump to action before truly understanding.
The power of data in driving change - by regularly tracking our progress and outcomes, we can identify trends and make informed decisions.
Do not do this alone! To quote Jason Leitch - you need “tools, pals & courage” when embarking on QI.
