Identifying steps of change
The first step of change is to identify the need for change. This happens in the “current state” before the change cycle begins.
Why
Identifying the need for change is a key part of continual improvement. It helps us to notice and respond to external factors. It also supports improvements in the delivery of high-quality services.
What
Several different processes could identify a need for change. For example, quality control monitoring could identify a problem in:
- increased wait time to access a service
- a reduction in service user satisfaction
Planning mechanisms could identify a need for change through:
- population health data
- responding to a national patient safety alert
- responding to a government directive
How
Tools that support identifying the need for change
Routine service feedback
Comment cards and feedback forms are simple ways for service users to give their feedback. Staff surveys can help you get feedback from service providers. Head to the Community Engagement website to find out more about comment cards.
Strategic gap analysis
This helps you to identify what’s missing by comparing the current situation and the future status.
Ongoing public, patient, and community engagement
An example of this is using a self-assessment tool. This can help you to identify ways to achieve high quality community engagement. Read the Quality Framework for Community Engagement and Participation on Community Engagement’s website to find out more on this.
Quality control measures
This is done through monitoring routine service against standards and quality metrics.