Today, I invite you to meet Dr Matt Hill – I hope you enjoy the warmth and wisdom he brings to this podcast series as much as I do!

I heard Matt speaking at the online NNAP conference, the National Neonatal Audit Programme, which showcased best practice in neonatal care.

Matt is the Clinical Adviser on Safety Culture for NHS England and was one of the keynote speakers.

He was talking about creating the conditions for a perinatal team to flourish – but it became clear to me that what he said would help ANY healthcare team to flourish.

There were so many practical examples of what makes a good team, and how is leads to well-being and a positive safety culture.

There was an emphasis on collaboration, inclusion, empathy and relationships.

There is huge synergy with our ‘Whose Shoes’ work, particularly around our core principle that you have to create the conditions for meaningful conversations, coproduction and teamwork!

Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋

• Health care in its broadest sense is about people - people caring for each other.
• Be curious about people; nurture and invest in them; share personal stories
• Look for those moments of human interaction
• Create space to get to know people as human beings and build trust among colleagues
• Learn about and recognise the value and unique contribution each individual brings
• Kindness and compassion helps good team dynamics, and improves culture and safety
• Create a welcoming environment for new staff members
• Introduce yourself as a person, rather than solely by job title, to foster a more inclusive and connected environment
• Flattening the hierarchy in workplace conversations makes it easier for junior members to share their thoughts and feelings with more senior colleagues
• Recognise and value diverse perspectives in healthcare, rather than prioritising a narrow view
• Understand patient experiences and preferences - ask what matters to each person to provide effective care
• Small gestures matter, such as using people’s preferred names, in building trust and psychological safety
• People may have different interpretations of the same words or actions
• Establishing positive relationships improves care outcomes, especially for the most vulnerable people
• Focus on doing things differently, rather than just measuring what we do!

If you have enjoyed this episode, you'll also love:
Episode 32. Dr. Bob Klaber - kindness matters!

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