Excellence in Practice graduates

Excellence in Practice programme sees first cohort graduate

The Excellence in Practice programme introduced by Chief Nurse Lisa Grant and her team in July 2020, focuses on demonstrating excellence across Nurses, Midwives and Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) at LTHT

Lisa joined the Trust in 2019 and clearly set out her vision for a nationally recognised programme that values, supports and recognises the workforce, whilst also attracting the very best people into the organisation. Ensuring that we provide the right education and skills for staff in their clinical areas, built on evidence based practice and research, whilst also undertaking areas of development that are at the heart of the Trust’s aims, was a key priority for the programme. The programme was developed and delivered in collaboration with Leeds Beckett University, University of Leeds, Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust, organisations in the Leeds Academic Health Partnership. It was launched as an important part of the celebrations around the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, which began in January 2020 for the bicentenary of the birth of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale. Designated by the World Health Organisation as the first ever global Year of the Nurse and Midwife, the year-long effort to raise awareness of their valuable work, and celebrate the positive impact they make on the lives of so many, has been embraced all over the world.

In December last year, the very first cohort of the Leeds Excellence in Practice programme were celebrated, as an impressive number of nurses, midwives and ODPs completed their programme in just 12 weeks, during one of the most challenging times the NHS has faced. Whilst the celebrations were moved online, it was a grand event nonetheless, kindly supported by Leeds Hospitals Charity with ‘live’ performances from solo singer and Associate Community Matron, Zoe Dunphy from Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust kicking off the event and Shire Oak C of E Primary School Choir ending the proceedings and congratulatory speeches led by Dame Linda Pollard, Chair of LTHT and Julian Hartley, Chief Executive. Core elements of the Excellence in Practice programme include Compassionate Leadership and the Leeds Improvement Method, and taking part embodies the Leeds Way Values and Respectful Behaviours. Nurses, Midwives and ODPs receive a specially designed badge, created to echo the traditional Nurses badge worn with pride on completion of training and dating back to the late 19th century. The Leeds Excellence in Practice badge was inspired by the Leeds Owl and the Yorkshire Rose. The Leeds Owl was chosen because of the Greek Goddess Athene who is often depicted as an owl for her wisdom, courage, inspiration, skill and strength. The badge symbolises recognition of our staff, pride in our professions and in LTHT. The 201 participants of this first cohort are a shining example of their professions and it is hoped that they will share their experiences and learning with their colleagues, and encourage others to take part. Thanks to Leeds Hospitals Charity for charitable funding that supported the initiative.

Chief Nurse Lisa Grant