Practice Development Unit : What is a PDU?
In the South West of the England, Bournemouth University offers a unique programme that has been developed in collaboration with health and social care providers in order to advance the effective and expert levels of care delivered to service users.
Dovetailing with national Clinical Governance standards, The School of Health & Social Care' Accreditation Framework provides guidance and support for the Unit as it focuses its activity on the ultimate goal of providing better care for patients.
Clinical teams are encouraged to question and challenge current practice and, by using the today's evidence base, improve services effectively. It ensures the evolution and sharing of proven best practice. Successful accreditation promotes robust clinical excellence.
Practice Development Unit Accreditation:
- Empowers the team, their service-users and their carers.
- Signifies excellence and serves as a "Kite mark" for the Quality of Care delivered. The Unit can achieve a higher local and national profile.
- Ensures a client-centred approach to delivery of service so that service-users' real needs are addressed (as opposed to needs perceived by others).
- Increases team networking which results in improved communication, more effective team functioning and, ultimately, a truly proactive multi-disciplinary team.
- Aids in the achievement of Clinical Governance and promotes efficient modernised practice - the team delivers more effectively.
- Facilitates recruitment and retention of quality staff and, on an individual level within the team, leadership and personal career development opportunities are encouraged with the knock-on effect of increased job satisfaction. Staff commitment and productivity increase.
- Influences organisational strategy in line with the National and Local agenda. A politically aware Unit has more stature in local projects and attracts increased local support.
- The University provides tailor-made support for the Unit that draws on the expertise of a team of Practice Development Unit Consultants. The Unit will enjoy the status of accreditation by a respected academic institution.
- For providers of privately funded healthcare, patients' confidence in the service could translate into increased revenue.
