Previously all staff in the department had completed a 2 hour workshop which detailed the expectations of all staff in the Trust. The Purple Monster course was intended to take this further to enable staff to practice and improve their communication skills.

AIMS
Promote the importance of listening skills for good customer service
To work experientially on body language tone of voice and choice of words
Provide an opportunity for staff to rehearsereal and challenging situations
Consider the impact of communication on others by putting ourselves in the customer’s shoes
Use Purple Monster’s Status 10 tool to maintain personal status, particularly during difficult situations

INTERVENTION
Purple Monster undertook embedded research to explore the working environment and understand better the everyday challenges for staff in the Maternity department.
A practical, one-day workshop including powerful behaviour-changing exercises such as ‘Status 10’ and ‘Listen, Check, Summarise’ was successfully delivered
Participants were encouraged to stretch themselves through participative, drama-based work to increase their ability to connect positively with patients and diffuse difficult situations.
Group work and the laughter of recognition encouraged participants to share best practice and bond as a team.


OUTCOMES
Concepts such as ‘Status 10’ have become a daily point of reference and are noticeably employed by the team, contributing to a deeper cultural change in the workplace
The team felt that the workshop allowed them to connect with each other in a way that they had never previously experienced. This good rapport has been sustained on the wards and there is a greater feeling of collective support amongst the participants.
Managers report one person describing the workshop as revelatory and life-changing.
97% of participants rated the training as good or excellent
100% of participants say they would apply this in practice
100% of participants say they would recommend this training to other staff