The dragons in question are the panel of the bi-annual Directors’ Dragons’ Den innovation fund. Aintree staff can bid for one-off funding of up to £25k to assist them with improvement work without impacting on department budgets, helping in our Trust vision of getting it right for every patient every time.
So that’s what it is but how did it start? During a series of Listening into Action conversations, one of the themes voiced by staff was that they had innovative improvement ideas but no spare budget within their departments to implement them. The Board listened and set aside an annual innovation fund of £250k to provide pump-prime capital to help staff start up their quality improvement projects.
In October 2014, the first round of Directors’ Dragons’ Den took place. The panel consists of the Chief Executive and Directors, with additional members taking part as availability allows, including Non-Executive Directors and a Director from the NWCAHSN. Staff are invited to complete an application form with their manager’s support including benefits to patients, staff and the Trust plus financial requirements. A shortlisting panel reviews the bids before applicants are informed whether they are invited to present to the Dragons; or given alternative suggestions to develop their concepts. A bid workshop helps staff develop their pitches to maximise their time in the Den.
Following all the presentations, the Dragons agree which bids to fund and provide supportive feedback to those who could progress their ideas through other avenues.
Support is available in key areas to increase the chance of success:
A nominated ‘Dragon’ helps strategically guide staff and unblock barriers;
single points of contact are available in departments such as IT to provide expertise;
project management advice is provided to help plan projects and understand implementation requirements.
Those who have implemented their projects can also mentor those new to the process. The encouragement of open feedback and engagement with candidates ensures lessons are learned at every stage of developing the process. The Directors’ Dragons’ Den encourages collaboration within individual projects and departments but also across various staff groups and divisions. Periodic updates and a Showcase event keep people informed of achievements and helps foster a sense of pride amongst staff, not only those directly involved in Directors’ Dragons’ Den but also from their peers.
To date 23 projects have received funding and the next round takes place in May 2016.
The dragons may not be fierce, fire-breathing or possess magical powers. But they do have the ability to empower Aintree staff to implement changes to improve patient care, staff experience and bring staff together in a way we are truly proud of. For more information, contact [email protected]