The changed economic climate, with a new focus on doing ‘more with less’ means we must use our resources more efficiently to deliver the best patient care.
‘Making Every Contact Count’ is a long-term strategy that aims to help us create a healthier population and reduce NHS costs.
As part of this strategy, NHS Yorkshire and the Humber have devised a ‘competence framework’ that seeks to equip our workforce - the biggest resource we have - with the skills and knowledge they need to identify and make the most of every opportunity to help people live healthier lives.
The Prevention and Lifestyle Behaviour Change Competence Framework has been developed and tested by NHS Yorkshire and the Humber over the past two years. Putting the prevention of health problems at the heart of every interaction between NHS employees and patients, the framework encourages frontline staff to offer brief but appropriate advice, including ‘signposting’ services, as part of their everyday contact with patients.
It describes the generic competencies required by NHS staff to enable them to promote healthier lifestyle choices in areas such as long-term conditions, obesity management, smoking cessation and alcohol abuse.
Already, 10 primary care trusts in our region are using the framework, which is available below:
The Prevention and Lifestyle Behaviour Change Competence Framework was developed and launched in Feb 2010. Since then the mapping exercise undertaken by Skills for Health has informed a version 2. Please note: The Framework has not changed only the competence information and links.
Prevention and Lifestyle Behaviour Change Framework - version 2 (876.1KB)
Prevention and Lifestyle Behaviour Change A Competence Framework (3.9MB)
Evidence base and evaluation
MECC report (332.9KB) - new evidence: a pilot evaluation of MECC by Manchester Business School (Dr Adrian Nelson), NICE Professor Mike Kelly, Sheffield Hallam University (Clare De Normanville) and NHS Yorkshire and the Humber (Karen Payne).
Scoping the Economic Case for the Health Behaviour Change Competence Framework (850.6KB)
Case studies
Case studies of how the framework has been successfully used by NHS staff are available here.
Presentations from the Making Every Contact Count Conference March 2011
Presentations from the Making Every Contact Count Conference in March 2011 are available here.
