title: Developing the role of a ward housekeeper within a multidisciplinary team.
abstract: The implementation of a housekeeper induction competency programme demonstrates the innovative way that the clinical standards facilitator has led the development of the housekeeping service at one NHS Trust. This service has been developed to ensure that there is sufficient training, support and opportunity to share best practice for the housekeepers. A Trust-wide approach using the multidisciplinary team (including dieticians, catering and facilities managers) has contributed to the raising of standards in meeting the patients' nutritional needs, as well as improving the ward environment. NHS Estates guidance (DH, 2001b) relating to the housekeeping service and the Essence of Care benchmarks for nutrition (DH, 2001a) were used to provide this framework for continuous quality improvement.
authors.affiliation: Birmingham Heartlands NHS Foundation Trust, Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham.
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richmond
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking / Q000458:organization & administration; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005521:Food Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006285:Health Planning; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006797:Housekeeping, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D024382:Professional Role; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006113:United Kingdom