Publish date: 16 January 2026
Quality Improvement (QI) is one of those phrases that gets used a lot in the NHS, but what does it really mean in day-to-day practice?
In simple terms, QI is about spotting where things could work better, testing small changes, learning from what happens, and building on what works. It helps make care safer, more effective, and creates better experiences for both our staff and the people who use our services. At Rowan View, QI is now becoming part of everyday life.
It became clear that while lots of great ideas were bubbling away, there wasn’t a shared understanding amongst many staff of how QI worked, or how to approach it with confidence. Some staff found it confusing, others found it daunting, and that made it harder for any improvement work to last. In response, Mersey Care’s QI team working in Secure Care and led by Mark Thorpe, set out to create a consistent, supportive approach to QI that was understandable, practical, and genuinely helpful.
The first step was simple, yet powerful – listening. The team spent time talking with staff and patients to really understand what had gotten in the way of sustainable improvement work in the past. What came through was not a lack of motivation, but a lack of clarity and confidence. Staff said they wanted to improve care, they just needed a simpler, more supported way to do it.
This led to the development of a new Quality Improvement folder system: each ward now has its own structured folder that breaks the QI process into clear, manageable stages. It includes an easy-to-read introduction to QI, along with practical steps to help teams identify a problem, measure it, test small changes and review what works. Staff are supported at each stage by one of the team’s QI partners, helping to turn ideas into action with confidence.
Sarah Pilling, Head of Operations (Medium Secure Unit), said “All wards at Rowan View are now actively involved in QI projects, and the shift in confidence has been clear to see. What once felt complicated now feels achievable. What once caused anxiety is now viewed as an opportunity. Their small steps, taken consistently, are making a real difference to patient experience, and the way care is delivered across the service.”
This work of the QI Team links closely with the wider role of the Trust’s Centre for Perfect Care, which supports services to continuously improve the quality of care and strengthen professional development. If you want to find out more, explore training opportunities or chat through an idea for a project in your own service, please visit the QI section on YourSpace.
