Up next in our Quality Improvement Spotlight series, we sat down with Liam McEvoy, whose journey through support work, team leadership, and service management has shaped the way he approaches change as a Quality Improvement Facilitator (QIF). Liam shares what life looks like in a role where no two days are the same, why he’s passionate about quality in health and social care, and how listening to the people we support guides everything he does.

Can you tell us a little about your role as a Quality Improvement Facilitator and what a typical day looks like for you?

"I don’t think there is a typical day as a QIF. Whether it is completing Audits remotely or in service, delivering training, organising and drafting reports, pulling information for investigations or implementing new initiatives by creating the necessary forms on access, there really is a wide range of things we can be doing, and it often changes from one day to the next."

What motivated you to pursue a career in quality improvement within health and social care?

"I landed in health and social care somewhat by accident and found that I had a passion for it. Having seen the effort it takes to run a service and having ideas for how to improve it, it felt like a natural fit to move from Operations into Quality and Compliance. I have now been in the role for 6 months and can say that I thoroughly enjoy it."

How do you identify areas that may benefit from quality improvement?

"This is a constant ongoing process, as we know there are always going to be areas of improvement, and it is through constant review that areas that may benefit from Quality Improvement are identified. This can be through more formal audits and inspections or day-to-day visits to service where we work with service managers and staff to identify areas for improvement."

Our PROUD values are central to everything we do. Which one resonates most with you and why?

"For me, it would definitely be dedicated. Having been a Support Worker, Team leader and Service Manager, I know firsthand the effort and hard work that goes into running a service. In this role, I get to go to lots of different services and see the hard work of our teams across the organisation and their dedication to doing the best for the people we support."

How do you ensure that the voices of the people we support inform your work and influence decision-making?

"One of the best parts of the role is getting to go to different services and speak to the brilliant people we support. I always make sure to take the time to speak to the people we support and listen to what they have to say. This is a vital part of the role as everything we do is to help the people we support, and by taking the time to speak with them and listen to their views, this helps to inform what I do with the  interests of the people we support at the centre of it."

In your experience, what difference does strong quality improvement make to the outcomes and well-being of the people we support?

"Strong quality improvement has a massive impact on not just the people we support but services overall. Strong quality improvement empowers our incredible staffing teams to improve their skills and improve the way they do things, which in turn means that the people we support receive better support. With the improved support, this helps the people we support to be more empowered and achieve their goals."

How has Northern Healthcare supported your professional development?

"Northern Healthcare has been very supportive of me. As I said, I have been a Support Worker, Team Leader and Service Manager. At each stage, I was given the opportunity to expand my skills and knowledge to enable me to reach that next level. Northern Healthcare has also supported me with more formal training, including completing an NVQ level 3, as well as being part of the first Future Leaders Programme."

What advice would you give to someone who wants to grow their skills in quality improvement?

"The advice I would give anyone is to say yes to new opportunities. Take the time to develop your knowledge and learn new skills. I would also say don’t be afraid to speak up respectfully, of course, when you feel things could be improved or you have ideas about how things could be done better."

Interested in joining our team? If Stephen’s journey has inspired you, take a look at our latest opportunities and start your own career with Northern Healthcare.