title: Enabling clinicians to become the quality leaders in a mental health service.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To show how clinicians can become the leaders of 'quality' in a mental health services, using the example of developments within Northern Sydney Health (NSH) Area Mental Health Services (AMHS).
  
  
  METHODS
  In the absence of an existing integrated area quality programme, NSH AMHS implemented a quality improvement programme whereby staff at the coalface would become the leaders in 'quality' guided and supported by the newly established Quality Unit. This innovative approach is consistent with evidence that suggests that clinicians need to 'own' quality improvement initiatives and embed them into everyday practice, rather than see them as the role of a designated 'quality' person/s.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within 12 months the service trained over 100 clinicians in Clinical Practice Improvement (CPI) methodology and currently has over 20 CPI projects with an identified measurable outcome. As well, it has provided over 200 staff with in-services on quality improvement approaches and trained 45 staff in root cause analysis. Training of eight clinicians in the use of the Minitab statistical package has allowed data analysis and charting to identify opportunities for improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The handing of 'quality' back to clinicians of the AMHS has provided a framework for improved outcomes for patients and carers. This approach to service improvement is transferable to other mental health services.
authors.affiliation: Area Mental Health, Northern Sydney Health, North Ryde, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Liz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Warby
mesh_terms: D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008332:Management Quality Circles; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D008611:Mentors; D009517:New South Wales; D010819:Physician's Role; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013663:Teaching