Engagement Showcase Event
The Ward Sisters Journey
Sarah Curtis and Alex Jones
11 September 2015
Behaviour… Pre Value Based Interviewing
in two Cancer Clinical Areas
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Habitual and Contagious behaviours
Blame Culture
Acceptance of poor behaviour
No Team Work
Competencies and Conduct Issues
High vacancies and turnover - we needed to recruit…
THE WARD SISTERS JOURNEY
Challenges and changes in our thinking…
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Would we have the time?
Would it be worth the investment?
I can make a decision off paper – I want them!
‘Sarah knows them, I am sure they will be great!’…
We are really short staffed –I think they will be fine.
They were so enthusiastic at interview – I only heard the
answers I wanted.
I missed the warning signs because I was seduced by their
skills.
THE WARD SISTERS JOURNEY
Changes in the way of thinking about recruitment…
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You listen, not look
It’s probing, has depth and can be emotional
Highlights strengths and weaknesses of internal staff –
helps justify the right decision.
It is better when practiced
It is unplanned for both interviewer and interviewee
It can be stressful
THE WARD SISTERS JOURNEY
Post Value Based Interviewing (2 years later)
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Habitually and Contagious Behaviours
Blame Culture
Acceptance
No Team Work
Competencies and Conduct Issues
We needed to recruit…
THE WARD SISTERS JOURNEY
Post Value Based Interviewing (2 years later)
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No performance or conduct issues with staff recruited with
VBI
Increased appropriate Datix [incident reporting] and
learning from incidents and supporting those involved.
Spontaneously new staff nurses asked if they could give
written reflections on challenging situations and
recognised through this what support they needed and
how to turn something negative into a positive.
THE WARD SISTERS JOURNEY
Post Value Based Interviewing (2 years later)
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Unacceptable behaviour was no longer acceptable and was
managed - the dominance of those that are unaligned
changes and their influence is not as loud - they become a
lone voice and they are more likely to be challenged by
colleagues!
Staff offered to help each other spontaneously. Increase in
team work
Rise from 65% compliance to 94% compliance for stat/man
training.
Proactive approach to learning and development.
THE WARD SISTERS JOURNEY
Final note from the Ward Sisters
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In 2012 we asked ‘Will we have the time?’… ‘We need to
recruit…’
THE WARD SISTERS JOURNEY