New courses aim to spread health and social care innovation

A new series of coaching courses aimed at supporting innovators in the North West Coast has been launched by the Innovation Agency, the Academic Health Science Network for the North West Coast.

The organisation’s Coaching Academy will be running three courses focussed on pandemic-related health and care innovations.

Jen Kohan, head of programmes at the Coaching Academy, said: “We know great innovations can make a real difference at a time when the health and social care sector really needs the help. Whether new ways of working or new products, we know that often the hardest part is letting people know they exist. That’s why we have created three courses which can help entrepreneurs, innovators as well as NHS and social care staff consider how their ideas or creations can help even more people across the north west.”

The suite of courses, the Innovator’s Mindset; Spread and Adoption; and Evaluation Fundamentals are delivered online. Places on the programmes are limited. To register your interest email: coach@innovationagencynwc.nhs.uk before 29 October.

Previous participants say the programmes have really helped.

Saad Alshukri, a volunteer at Mersey Care’s Life Rooms, said: “The coaching programme was inspiring, informative and helpful in developing and progressing our projects to improve mental wellbeing for service users and carers who access the Life Rooms services within Mersey Care.”

Karen Machin who runs a consultancy business which supports organisations and individuals said: "The online programme supported our thinking in defining our own offer and how to communicate it. As a direct result, we have had the confidence to move our training online. We have secured our own ‘virtual venue’ so that we can invite learners into an online space which fits with our way of working, rather than trying to fit our way of working into existing platforms.”