We have been developing our understanding and use of implementation science, and more recently, quality improvement coaching across the REPS team.
Implementation science is the study of methods that influence the integration of evidence-based interventions into practice settings.
In REPS, we use implementation science frameworks to guide our approach to developing and embedding our whole service interventions. This increases the likelihood that the outcome of the intervention will be successful and sustainable.
Quality Improvement is a framework which we use to bring a systematic approach to complex problems, improving outcomes.
We use a quality improvement framework to help us work with establishments and other partners and stakeholders to understand systems, identify clear aims and measurements and to formulate a theory of change. We then test out the change ideas using plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles, which help us to refine changes before implementing them more widely. This increases the likelihood that teams are investing time and effort in changes which are most likely to lead to improvement and that those changes are carefully developed to meet the needs of the context. These changes are therefore more likely to be effective and sustainable.
You can find out more about Quality Improvement on the NHS NES website here.
