In August 2024, NHS England launched the Enhanced Therapeutic Observations and Care (ETOC) programme, supporting Trusts to make local, clinically-led, and patient-centred approaches to improve care provisions.
As part of the new programme, our Aintree, Broadgreen and Royal sites were chosen alongside 14 other Trusts across the country, to be part of a collaborative focussing on improving ETOC by trialling new and innovative approaches to care locally.
Our collaborative approach will be driven mainly by our Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) as the staff group who predominantly undertake what was previously referred to as ‘close observations’ or ‘one to ones’. Colleague input into the programme will be invaluable and will help to shape how we deliver ETOC going forward whilst improving working environments for those supporting individualised care.
ETOC is not just observation, it is a therapeutic intervention focused on understanding behaviour, reducing distress and supporting safe care.
This includes:
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Using behaviour to understand patient need, not just record risk
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Ensuring observations are clinically justified and regularly reviewed
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Reducing unnecessary 1:1 where it does not add value
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Supporting staff to respond confidently using communication and de-escalation.
