Zoning: focused support: a trust wide implementation project

• Published in: Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing 2010-02, Vol.17 (1), p.79-86
• Main Authors: GAMBLE, C., DODD, G., GRELLIER, J., HEVER, M., O'CONNER, C., CLARKE, T., CHIPERE, R., MELLOR, M., NESS, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: care coordination; Community Mental Health Services - organization & administration; continuity of care; Continuity of Patient Care - organization & administration; Focus Groups; Humans; Mental Disorders - nursing; National Health Programs; Nursing; Psychiatric Nursing - organization & administration; Quality Assurance, Health Care - organization & administration; risk management; Risk Management - organization & administration; service development; Social Support; United Kingdom
• ISSN: 1351-0126; 1365-2850
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2850.2009.01515.x

Accessible summary •  Applying pragmatic risk management procedures to facilitate the sharing of clinical knowledge in and across mental health teams. Zoning: focused support is pragmatic risk management support procedure that enhances adherence to operational policies, provides a forum in which staff can receive support and visually facilitates the sharing of clinical knowledge. This paper presents a 3‐year multi‐method management project that sought to introduce zoning principles into all teams of an inner city Mental Health NHS Trust. By changing the language and culture of the organization findings indicate that there has been a positive attitudinal shift in how the approach is perceived. It is considered to be of value to staff, service users and their families and 73% of teams are now using it routinely.