FoNS is very pleased to announce the publication of Volume 3 issue Number 1 of the International Practice Development Journal (IPDJ). We are delighted that the Institute for Research in Mental Health and Substance Abuse, part of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Buskered University College, Norway, has sponsored the first paper in this issue. 

Here is the Table of Contents for the rest of this issue of the Journal.  You will need to log on as a ‘Friend’ or ‘Associate’ to access these papers.

1.  Bengt Karlsson, Marit Borg, Tevje Revheim and Reidun Jonassen, “To see each other more like human beings …from both sides.”  Patients and therapists going to a study course together considers the potential for collaboration and partnership between service users and their therapists. 

2. Tanya McCance, Bernadette Gribben, Brendan McCormack and Elizabeth A Laird Promoting person-centred practice within acute care: The impact of culture and context on a facilitated practice development programme 

3. Lioba Howatson-Jones, Claire Thurgate, Myriam Graber, Carma M Harnett, Joanne S Thompson and Deborah A Jordan Biographical learning: a process for promoting person-centredness in nursing

4. Diana Jefferies and Debbie Horsfall Developing person-centred care through the use of autobiography

5. Christine Gustafsson, Lena-Karin Gustafsson and Ingrid Snellman Trust leading to hope - the signification of meaningful encounters in Swedish healthcare. The narratives of patients, relatives and healthcare staff

6. Maria Arman, Annica Alvenäng, Nadia El Madani, Anne-Sofie Hammarqvist and Albertine Ranheim  Care-giving for existential wellbeing: Existential literacy. A clinical study in anthroposophic healthcare context

7. Ann Scott Don’t fix – facilitate: the role of reflection in successful change processes

8. Andrew Southgate Confounding expectations: reflection on simulation with learning disability service users

9. Sarah Tillott The importance of staff engagement to the development of positive workplace cultures

10. Angie Titchen Writing with flow: publish and flourish through whole-self writing

Finally, Angie Titchen, Steve Ersser and Brendan McCormack’s Tribute to Sue Pembrey

Click here to visit the Journal Homepage. 

Also, this week, an interesting opportunity has arisen in response to the recent Francis and Care Quality Commission reports.  The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust (WCMT), is seeking to support a new category of Fellowships which focus on patient care. The WCMT plans to award ten Travelling Fellowships each year from 2014 for three years to individuals in the medical, nursing and social professions with projects emphasising patient dignity and leadership/team working.

Finally a possible event for your diary.  Are you looking for a new challenge, or want to know what opportunities are available to someone with your experience? Taking place on 27 June in Birmingham, Career Pathways is a free recruitment fair exclusive to the healthcare sector. 

An interesting opportunity has arisen in response to the recent Francis and Care Quality Commission reports and concerns raised by the public, healthcare professionals and politicians.  The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust (WCMT) as part of its Travelling Fellowship scheme, is seeking to support a new category of Fellowships which focus on patient care.

Dear Friends and Associates

We are continuing to develop our weekly news alert by embedding direct links from the news items to the relevant pages of our website.  You can still click on the link at the bottom of the page to go to the news page.

FoNS would like to understand more about the longer term value of the Patients First Programme and is inviting tenders for an evaluation of the first three years.  FoNS is excited about this opportunity for independent evaluation of this popular programme.

Up-coming events for your diary – the Delivering the Francis Report conference in central London, Tuesday 18^th June, provides an opportunity to explore his findings in detail and reflect on how the recommendations can be delivered in practice.  There is also a linked half day briefing, Transforming Healthcare Cultures. 

We’d also like to bring to your attention to a new project report on the website.  A team in Northern Ireland successfully set up a nurse led telephone review clinic for patients with inflammatory bowel disease.  We think this project will be of interest to anyone considering alternative ways to offer review for patients with chronic conditions.

FoNS has a stand at the Learning from Mid Staffordshire - Key Themes in Nursing event in London, next Tuesday, 14th May.  One of the things we’re keen to talk about is the importance of workplace culture in creating environments where compassionate care can flourish – a key theme in our Creating Caring Cultures programme.

Finally, we were very interested to read about the King’s College research into the well-being of nurses and other healthcare staff that demonstrated how positive staff well-being impacted on positive patient outcomes and experience of care. 

Welcome to FoNS' first Weekly News.  We're hoping to be able to keep you up to date with more news and events, without clogging up your in-box.  

Richard Tompkins Nurse Development Scholarship - Winner announced

Bursary News - New from the RCN

CCIO Annual Nursing Conference

A celebration and review of the Excellence in Practice Accreditation Scheme

The Nursing Times Speak Out Safely Campaign

Assessing and Transforming the Culture of an NHS Organisation

Comments?  Just reply to admin@fons.org

This is our final news alert.  From Wednesday 1st May we will be sending a weekly news alert...

We thought you might be interested in this event..

On Tuesday 9th July 2013 in London, this conference focuses on assessing and improving the culture of your NHS organisation or service. Interactive masterclass sessions, case studies and presentations will focus on how you understand culture, values and the relationship between culture and behaviour. How you can implement a culture change programme to ensure a compassionate, open and honest service where staff are motivated and empowered to lead for quality improvement and patient safety. You will leave the conference with a practical toolkit of approaches to help you face the challenge of this difficult issue.

For further information visit http://www.healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk/assessing-transforming-nhs-culture or contactkerry@healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk.  Follow the conference on Twitter #NHSCulture.

A 20% discount* is available to FoNS members and contacts, and their staff and colleagues, please quote ref: huck20fons when booking. (*cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.)