A NEW ‘Falls Fellowship’ initiative has been established within UHMBT to provide career development opportunities, drive falls awareness, reduce falls, improve safety and enhance quality of care.

The Falls Fellowship is an in-house, locally driven ‘champion-level’ development opportunity for colleagues. It offers career opportunities which will provide insight, exposure and high-quality skill development in evidence-based practice.

These opportunities will give colleagues a chance to learn more about what underpins continuous quality improvement and enable them to experience the challenges and opportunities of innovation in today’s NHS. Project management skills and local engagement experience will also be on offer to the ‘Falls Fellows’.

Laura Neal, Falls Lead, Associate Chief Nurse and Magnet4Europe Programme Lead at UHMBT, is currently working with Andrew Thompson, Surgery and Critical Care Matron at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), Sharon Moore, Ward Manager at the Abbey View community ward at Furness General Hospital (FGH), Lorraine Knowles, Advance Nurse Practitioner and Louise Ball, Advanced Physiotherapist, on the Falls Fellowship.

Ms Neal said: “The Falls Fellowship is a transformational initiative and a fantastic opportunity for colleagues to broaden their professional horizons. It’s not hierarchical and offers colleagues opportunities for career development and to experience coaching and mentorship.

“Our Falls Fellows will be able to gain deeper professional knowledge and greater inter-personal workforce expertise. They will also have opportunities to work on quality improvement and individual project development.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Falls Fellowship at UHMBT can contact Laura Neal via email at: Laura.neal@mbht.nhs.uk