Innovation at Mersey Care recognises the reality we are working in. Services face significant pressure, expectations on the organisation continue to grow, and the funding available does not always match the scale of what we are being asked to deliver. Innovation is not about new ideas for the sake of it. It is about being creative, resourceful and deliberate in how we help the organisation succeed in challenging times. 

Our role is to find better ways of using what we already have, to bring in additional external support when it helps, and to design practical solutions that make work easier and more effective for our teams. Innovation is not separate to transformation or operational delivery. It sits within it and strengthens it by helping us test, learn and improve in a realistic and sustainable way. 

We support the Trust by developing and delivering innovation that: 

  • connects directly to transformation work and supports strategic priorities 

  • strengthens partnerships across the NHS, local authorities, academia and voluntary community and social enterprise  (VCSE) organisations 

  • enables teams to work in more effective and efficient ways 

  • uses data responsibly to guide better decisions 

  • brings in external funding so the Trust can innovate without increasing financial pressure. 

We focus on practical innovation that helps Mersey Care meet rising demand. Our work brings together people, data and external resource to develop solutions that strengthen prevention, improve day to day operations and support better decision making. 

Our work is broad and stretches across the organisation, across the wider Cheshire and Merseyside system, and in some areas at national level. Innovation at Mersey Care is not limited to one programme or one type of work. It includes data, digital development, new models of care, research partnerships, operational improvement and system collaboration. 

Below are examples of some of the key areas we lead: 

Children and young people We are actively supporting regional work on data innovation for children and young people, bringing partners together to understand need earlier, share insights and improve how support is coordinated across the system. This includes convening the CYP Data Innovation Community of Practice, which has now attracted interest as part of the Liverpool City Region OPSI programme. 

Staff experience We are developing clearer, more actionable analysis of the Trust’s Staff Survey, helping leaders understand feedback more effectively and take timely action to support staff wellbeing and organisational culture. 

Federated Data Platform (FDP) Mental Health Champion Programme Mersey Care has been recognised as the Mental Health FDP Champion site for England. This means we are taking a leading national role in shaping how the FDP is developed for all mental health trusts. Our work uses real world data to design tools that support clinical teams, improve flow and help model risk and demand. 

Research and evaluation We aim to strengthen the Trust’s evidence base by supporting research applications and delivery, such as our recently submitted proposal on improving joined up care for children and young people's mental health. This work helps build the foundation for future funding, evaluation and system learning. 

These examples sit within a much wider innovation pipeline that spans digital development, mental health improvement, organisational innovation, research and cross system partnership work. Together they show how innovation supports transformation, strategy and day to day delivery across the Trust and beyond. 

Commercial innovation

The Innovation team at Mersey Care also work closely with industry partners in several ways. Our commercial innovation offer at Mersey Care creates opportunities for the Trust to work with industry partners in ways that strengthen care, accelerate safe adoption of new technologies and bring additional resource into the organisation. Our approach is practical, collaborative and grounded in real‑world clinical needs. We focus on shaping commercial partnerships that add value for our patients, our staff and the wider system while supporting the Trust’s financial sustainability. 

We provide a clear and responsible route for companies to work with Mersey Care, offering access to expert knowledge, lived experience, real-world environments and secure data in a way that is ethical, evidence‑based and aligned to our strategic priorities. 

Our services for commercial partners include:

  • Product development support -  we work with innovators to refine concepts and shape products so they address genuine clinical, operational and system challenges. This includes co-design with frontline teams, rapid testing, and iterative development grounded in real service contexts. 

  • Expert consultation -  our clinical, operational, digital and analytical experts help partners understand the pathways, models of care and regulatory environment that shape mental health and community services. This ensures products are safe, meaningful and ready for adoption. 

  • Lived experience consultation - we provide access to lived experience advisors who bring valuable insight into the design, usability and acceptability of new tools. This ensures solutions are shaped not only around clinical need but also around the real lives of the people who use them. 

  • Real‑world evaluation - we support robust evaluation of new technologies and service models through real‑world testing in controlled environments. Our evaluation approach focuses on safety, effectiveness, usability, workflow impact and economic benefit. This helps partners generate the evidence required for scale and adoption. 

  • Market readiness support - we help partners prepare their products for real‑world adoption by providing insight into NHS procurement requirements, implementation considerations and pathway fit. This includes advising on evidence needs, safety expectations, interoperability, evaluation standards and the practical steps required to move from prototype to deployable solution. 

  • Secure Data Access Through Our SDE and TRE - where appropriate, partners can access linked, de‑identified data through our Secure Data Environment (SDE) and Trusted Research Environment (TRE). This supports responsible innovation by enabling high‑quality analytics, model development and validation, all within a governance framework that protects privacy and builds public trust. 

Commercial innovation expands Mersey Care’s ability to shape the future of mental health and community care. By working with industry in a structured, ethical and impact‑focused way, we bring additional capability and investment into the Trust, accelerate innovation that benefits our patients and staff, and contribute to national advances in data-driven healthcare and digital mental health.