Authors; Dr Katherine Barton, Dr Lucy Maudlin, Professor Tim Draycott, Dr Alex Crowe

Each person counts – The role of the maternity team

Objective: To provide all doctors working within maternity services with non-technical skills to be effective future leaders, to enable them to provide safe and effective care. This pilot course aims to teach senior obstetrics and gynaecology trainees about leadership and teamwork through a blended practical approach, aiming to promote innovation, leadership and problem solving skills using the principle of team synergy incorporating good work-based behaviours. 

 

Design: The course is designed in two parts. The first part consists of an e-leaning module. The second part is a blended practical course covering elements of leadership and team working whilst incorporating human factors, emotional intelligence and culture. We aim to educate participants on common themes found in legal claims within maternity services that have been identified in cases of avoidable harm. 

 

Method: The NHS Resolution Second Early Notification report identified several themes in cases of avoidable harm including lack of situational awareness, confirmation bias and delay in escalation. Several national reports have highlighted difficulties with work based culture and its impact on care.1 Based on UK military training techniques our programme fosters improved culture and team synergy with a focus on leadership skills and self-awareness. The e-learning covers behaviours to engender trust and support within a team. The idea of a non-medical ward round is introduced as a safe space to exchange ideas. Workshops cover team working, leadership, work based culture and human factors. There are group tasks throughout including building activities to recreate problems encountered at work.

 

Results: Case stories are used to provoke reflection and during the practical session each doctor leads a task, reflects and then receives feedback on their performance from their team and the facilitator. A flat hierarchy ensures all participants are treated equally. The principles taught are used to challenge participants on how to improve care in their local units and applying these principles to workplace situations.

 

Conclusions: There is currently limited training for the maternity workforce in team working, leadership and management. We hope to provide candidates with a better understanding of these principles and techniques that they can apply locally. We hope that this will improve safety for women and their families as well as supporting teams working in maternity.