Following the creation of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, the Academy of Research and Improvement is excited to share our offer and approach to supporting a culture of learning and continuous improvement across our organisation.
Our mission
At the Academy, our mission is simple yet powerful: to drive innovation and improvement in health and care services that create meaningful impact on the lives of our patients and communities, through collaboration, innovation, and evidence-based research.
We believe that the best healthcare solutions are those shaped by the communities they serve. That’s why we focus on empowering our colleagues, patients, and service users to actively participate in improvement and research activities across the Trust. We support them by providing the tools, training, and confidence to identify and influence positive change, helping to make sure that our healthcare services evolve to meet their needs and the needs of others.
Our service areas
The Academy is organised into four key service areas, each dedicated to fostering excellence and continuous improvement:
Research: As a University Hospital Trust, research is at the heart of what we do. Our team conducts innovative studies that inform best practices, ensuring our healthcare services are backed by the latest scientific evidence.
Improvement: Our Improvement team works closely with staff and patients to identify opportunities for growth and development. By implementing strategic changes, we aim to enhance the quality and effectiveness of our services, ensuring better outcomes for our patients.
Recovery Education: Our Recovery College provides training and support to enable people to improve their mental and physical health. Integral to this are opportunities to become peer trainers, and to learn new skills in an educational environment. Our Academy embraces education and applied learning to all areas of our work.
People Participation: We believe that true innovation comes from collaboration. By actively engaging with patients, service users, and the broader community, we strive to shape our services with those who use them. Their voices guide our decisions, helping us build a healthcare system that is responsive and inclusive.
Enhanced regional support
The Academy of Research and Improvement is now better equipped than ever to support our communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. This expansion has united community, mental health, and learning disability services under one roof, creating a more integrated and cohesive approach to healthcare. This integration also allows us to reduce duplication, eliminate unnecessary variations in practice, and provide better access to research and improvement activities.
Looking ahead: driving positive change together
We are committed to fostering a culture of continuous improvement, research excellence, and active community participation, and we’re excited to embark on this journey with our communities, colleagues, and partners. As one of the largest community and mental health NHS Trusts in the country, we can bring together providers of health and care, and our Universities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to collaborate on research and improvement and build the evidence base for enhanced care out of hospital. We will support our organisation's priority to reduce inequalities in health and care and improve the health of our populations.
Welcome to the Academy of Research and Improvement – where innovation meets community, and research drives better care.