Learning & Impact
When is Flow Coaching the right choice and why does it work?
The FCA methodology can be applied in multiple situations but is particularly effective in the following ways…
Improving Patient Experience
The patient is at the heart of everything the FCA does. Their stories, experiences, and involvement in the process reminds us every step of the way, what we are all working towards.
Creating Cultures of Improvement
We work with healthcare providers in the UK to transform collaboration across system boundaries, optimise patient experiences and staff wellbeing. Our work creates lasting improvement capability, confident enablers, leaders and cultures built on kindness, curiosity, honesty, and respect.
Aiding the Adoption of New Initiatives
Change can feel difficult and at times uncomfortable. Even change that is supported can flounder as the humans responsible for its implementation find it easier to stick with their normal routines. Shifting human behaviour is hard. On our programme our coaches learn how to influence and manage resistance along with coaching teams to break-through the habit barrier to adopt new methods, technology, or approaches.
Creating Communities of Practice
A Community Of Practice (CoP) is a group of people who share a common concern, a set of problems, or an interest in a topic and who come together to fulfil both individual and group goals. The FCA is built on this principle, our programme harnesses the brilliance of people and forges connections that make it possible to bring about change.
Reducing Failure Demand and Focusing on ‘Value’
Taking a high-level view of a healthcare provider, they have a population of patients who need their services ‘Demand’ and the provider has a set of processes and capacity to meet that demand, to add value to the patient. Flow is the movement of our patients through that system, so they receive that value without delay.
“Being part of the FCA has restored my faith in individuals and teams to effect change. It has helped me to channel my enthusiasm for change into action and, even better, I’m helping others do the same.”
Consultant at Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Why does the FCA way work?
We believe that our course’s combination of practical quality improvement tools and coaching skills used in the Big Room context is why our course works. Our magic thread is the trainer’s ability to create psychologically safe spaces and harness potential in others. It is this combination of skills, approach and environment that means our connections with our partners make a difference.
Learning reports
All improvement requires moving motivation and ideas towards engagement and collaboration with a coherent and cohesive method. Sustaining the work in a meaningful way, that moves cultures toward ones of continuous improvement takes time, commitment, and leadership.
Even in the toughest of times we know colleagues are motivated and passionate about making improvements. Often we notice an abundance of ideas about how to do things differently, and a frustration that it feels so difficult to move these ideas into action.
Below are a series of reports that offer more insight into improving in the NHS.
Improving flow along care pathways
The report highlights the crucial role that good flow plays in improving patients’ experiences, reducing delays and interruptions to care. It suggests that there is a lot that system leads, improvement practitioners and policy makers could gain from the approaching the FCA.
Creating a Continuous Improvement Culture
Developed in partnership with Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, a comprehensive guide to creating a continuous improvement culture it documents their journey and how they incorporated the FCA methodology into their improvement approach.
Building Improvement Capability – NHS Providers Research
In 2023 the Flow Coaching Academy (FCA) ran Qualitative and Quantitative research to gather the views of improvement leaders and others involved in quality/continuous improvement work in NHS provider organisations.