Think QI Model

Building our capability for continuous improvement leads to better outcomes for our communities. Be part of the change and learn more about Quality Improvement and our Think QI model below.

Think QI model step-by-step guide

The Think QI model will help you to make a change or improvement to a service.

Learn more about each step in the continuous improvement cycle.

Scoping your project

Before using the Think QI model, you need to understand the basic outline of what you want to do. This is called 'scoping' or 'scope'.

You may find it helpful to write down the scope of your project. It can be used as a reference point when communicating your project to others. You can use our scoping document template.

You should ask yourself questions like:

What changes you would you need or like to make?
Why do the changes need to happen?
Who will benefit from the change?
Who will be responsible for making the change or how is the change going to happen?
When will you need to make the change?
How will you know if the change has made a difference?
How will you let others know about your plans?

Scoping resources

Step 1: Deep dive

Get to the root of the improvement area or problem by really understanding what's going on from all angles. Then you can build a picture that includes baseline data to:

analyse the current situation
identify the core issues
set clear goals

Download deep dive at a glance (PDF 141KB)

Download deep dive in depth (PDF 318kb)

Deep dive resources

Step 2: Design

Generate improvement ideas and possible solutions, choosing which elements to test, and designing in more detail. Remember to include how the impact of the change will be measured!

Download design at a glance (PDF 129kb)

Download design in depth (PDF 217kb)

Design resources

Options Appraisal Template

Use this tool to evaluate the available options to achieve your project objectives. It will help you identify and evaluate the options against a set of criteria. You will then score the options using the options scorecard.

This tool shows the different options to achieve your project's objectives and to evaluate each option's viability against a set of criteria against each option using an Options Scorecard.

These include:

Benefits
Timescale
Financial outlay/profit

Download an options appraisal template (Word doc 259 KB)

Step 3: Deliver

Planning, implementing, testing and measuring the impact of the change or improvement using the PDSA method:

Plan the change
Do the change
Study the results
Act by adjusting, sharing, and spreading improvements

Download deliver at a glance (PDF 126.5kb)

Download deliver in depth (PDF 317.4kb)

Deliver resources

Project plan tracker

A helpful tool to allow you to keep track of all the actions that need to be taken throughout the life of the project.

It identifies the different workstreams for the project, who will be doing what and by when. It is red, amber, green (RAG) rated so it will be easy to see any slippage in timescales.

Download the project plan tracker

Risks, assumptions, issues, decisions and lessons learned

A concise tool to capture and track the key factors that may affect the project. It records all risks, assumptions, issues, decisions and emerging lessons, with RAG ratings to make it easy to spot priorities and areas needing attention.

Download risks and issues at a glance

Download risks assumptions issues decisions lessons learned template

Step 4: Evolve

The final step is to review the change regularly and when indicated, start the cycle again. There is always room to grow!

Evolve resources

Lessons learned tool

The lessons learned tool supports regular reflection on what went well and what didn't, capturing insights throughout the project. This log helps guide future projects for you and other teams.

Review achievements, lessons learned, outstanding actions, and recommendations, and develop a schedule for ongoing review. This step is crucial for evolution and continual improvement.

Download the lessons learned matrix (PDF 459KB)

Download the project closure template (Word doc 95KB)