Innovation Agency launches coaching academy for digital tech

A coaching academy has been launched by the Innovation Agency to help health and social care professionals introduce innovations into the health service.

Two programmes are being offered to people working in the NHS, universities, voluntary and other public sector organisations in the North West Coast – Cheshire, Lancashire, Merseyside and South Cumbria.

The aim is to improve the spread and adoption of innovation and to create a safe and continuously improving healthcare workplace culture, using the best available strategies and techniques.

The Innovation Agency’s associate director for improvement and education, Juliette Kumar said: “Innovation is something new that adds value, this could be shiny new tech or a new approach or system of care; but it isn’t a simple matter to introduce it into a health or care service.

“There are well-evidenced tools and strategies for helping staff to adopt innovations and implement changes in their workplaces, we will provide these tools through our new academy, and offer ongoing coaching and support as staff navigate the tricky waters of implementing innovations.

“Health and care services don’t always involve a simple transaction between one clinician and one patient; it involves multiple teams and professions and even the best ideas for improvement can fail if teams are not aware of both the technical and interpersonal challenges they will face as they prepare for change.”