Following the launch of the first Leading Change, Adding Value e-learning tool, Susan Aitkenhead, Director of Nursing, Professional Development at NHS England and Liz Fenton, Deputy Chief Nurse at Health Education England, outline how it will support nursing, midwifery and care staff to identify and address unwarranted variation in practice.

We are delighted to be launching the first Leading Change, Adding Value (LCAV) e-learning tool. Together, Health Education England, NHS England and partner organisations have worked with e-Learning for Healthcare to develop this tool that we hope will help explain and perhaps ‘de-mystify’ the approach to identifying and addressing unwarranted variation in practice.

LCAV is the national framework for nursing, midwifery and care staff in England. Following extensive consultation and feedback, the framework was developed to support nursing, midwifery and care staff working in this time of transformation across all health and care sectors. It aims to truly demonstrate and share the leadership and practice that is undertaken every day by thousands of staff and which results in excellent outcomes and experience for patients, individuals and populations.

Measuring outcomes

LCAV asks that we apply the same importance to ‘quantifying’ and ‘measuring’ the outcomes of our work, as we do to demonstrating the quality and compassion that we are already recognised for. Applying both together should not be mutually exclusive and the framework explains how nursing, midwifery and care staff, whatever their role, wherever they work, can look at what needs to change or could be changed to improve services, experiences and outcomes for patients, individuals and populations. This e-learning tool has been developed to support nursing, midwifery and care staff to identify and address this unwarranted variation in practice.

Since the launch of the national framework in May 2016, it has been clear that many colleagues are already identifying unwarranted variation as part of their everyday practice, however, much of this essential work can often remain hidden or misunderstood, as some of it is not easily measured, captured, or shared.

Making standing of care equal

LCAV specifically looks at reducing ‘unwarranted variation’, where standards of care are not equal and how we can make sure, that by seeing where any inequalities exist and changing them, that everyone can receive the same highest standards of better outcomes, better experiences and better use of resources.

However it has also been clear that for many, this may be a new way of working and that some of the language and principles may be unfamiliar.

Therefore, the aim of this e-learning tool is to provide an opportunity to build, or strengthen current knowledge and skills in the understanding of the impact of unwarranted variation on individuals and populations and then help lead the change required to address this.

The central ethos of the framework is that everyone is a leader, wherever they work, whatever their role. With this in mind, the e-learning tool aims to equip all staff to be able to apply the ten commitments identified within the framework to their role.

Launched today (26 March), the e-learning tool can be accessed here. Recognising that not all nursing, midwifery and care staff might have easy access to online resources, we have also ensured that a pdf version is available. The e-learning session should take approximately 20-25 minutes to complete.

There has been a great deal of work and feedback put in to this tool and we would particularly like to thank the LCAV e-learning tool Task and Finish group for all their hard work and support in helping to create this important tool.

So, we would encourage you and your colleagues to access the e-learning and find out more about the framework. By doing so, nursing, midwifery and care staff can demonstrate our vitally important contribution to the transformational work that is happening across the country. It also offers the opportunity to showcase and share the positive outcomes of that work and also to highlight the key leadership role that nursing, midwifery and care staff must have within both health and care sectors today and for the future.