Our approach to the pursuit of quality
The 'democratic approach' to quality is emerging from the more traditional approaches as a distinctive attitude that is better suited to the modern health and welfare system.
Aiming for excellence
In 1905, Albert Einstein introduced the theory of special relativity, most commonly recognised as the famous equation E=mc2. His work shattered many scientific theories that were held to be true at the time and subsequently changed the shape of our world by its various applications.
In the same way, Lattice Consulting proposes that the pursuit of quality by mental health and addiction services needs to change tack so that the people who both deliver and receive services are all involved in focused discussions about the notion of ‘quality’. What is it and how do we all know when we have achieved it?
The following formula goes some way towards explaining our approach as to how excellence in the mental health and addiction system might best be achieved:
- Measurement - the production and use of credible evidence (including measures) to assess and drive improvements, but which are balanced with some other key ingredients such as...
- Communication – service users, families and the workforce interacting, talking and listening to one another and asking critical questions about the issues that really matter.
- Collaboration – people with shared responsibilities, working across professional, team, service, organisational and sector boundaries to achieve clearly identified, common goals for the benefit of the communities that they serve.
- Creativity – people are encouraged and rewarded to engage in reflective and innovative practice.
- Context – the complex interplay between different people and their environment is the messier and least well understood aspect of the performance story. In any discussion about organisational change and improving the quality of services the context is king.
Read more about each of the key areas to the Lattice approach:
- Quality Improvement: focusing on the positive end of performance, understanding what service practices produce good outcomes for people. Read more
- Conversation as a Core Process: increasing people's capacity for effective action in pursuit of common aims. Read more
- Service Improvement Toolkit: the approaches being adopted by providers who are looking for new ways to help structure their service improvement activities. Read more
- Sector Transformation: developing a new way of thinking about the sector and its relationship to the communities of people that we serve. Read more
