Dragons’ Den annual staff innovation competition 2019

Our annual Dragons' Den innovation competition is similar to the hit BBC television programme, though our ‘dragons’ are not as mean. It is the opportunity for staff to put forward a great idea and – if shortlisted – pitch for project funding and management support to make their proposal a reality.

We’d like to enlist your help. We’d like you to pick your favourite three ideas from the shortlist. The most popular ideas will be pitched to our Dragons at the final in July.

Voting closes on June 3.

The ideas shortlisted are

Trust in Trees

Plant fruit trees at various Dorset HealthCare premises for patients, visitors and staff to enjoy. As well as creating a nicer environment and helping with mental wellbeing, the trees would provide gardening activities to support patient recovery and produce free fruit each year to promote healthy eating options.

Calm, healing, sensory garden area

Create a sensory garden for patients and staff at the Nightingale House mental health rehabilitation unit in Bournemouth. This will provide a quiet, calming space for one-to-one chats, personal visits and group activities such as painting and mindfulness. Patients can help to create and maintain the area, providing an additional sense of purpose and pride.

Mindfulness Peer-Support Network

Create a peer-led support network to help embed mindfulness in the Trust and provide regular space and resources to help staff benefit from mindfulness practice. There will be a resource page on Doris, monthly support groups and equipment to enable staff to better look after themselves and each other.

Nutrition Webinars

Run live webinars to train health professionals and nursing home staff on different aspects of patient nutrition. This will help them to tackle problems such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, obesity, diabetes and malnutrition. Online training will save staff time, reach more people more quickly and may also help reduce numbers of people needing specialist nutrition services.

Deals On Wheels

Set up a mobile shop at St Ann’s Hospital in Poole, selling snacks, drinks, newspapers, puzzle books, stamps, toiletries and other items. Run mainly by volunteer service users, the trolley-based shop will benefit patients who are not well enough to leave the hospital and go shopping. Proceeds will help maintain the service and also support mental health charity MIND.

DNA – Dorset’s New Adults Care Leaver Survival Kit

Provide people leaving care at the age of 18 with a ‘survival kit’ to help support their independence and encourage them to stay healthy. Each box would contain foodstuffs, vitamins, hygiene/health products and a blanket, plus items tailored to each individual. It would help set young adults on the right path and make them less reliant on health and care services.

1 to 2 Move

Run parent and child sessions to promote and encourage physical activity for young children. As well as supporting child development and self-confidence, they would promote healthy lifestyles at an early age, and help to address long-term health problems such as obesity and diabetes. They would also encourage on-going physical activities for whole families.

Helping patients help themselves: A visual aid to guided self-help

Create a series of short video clips outlining treatment and support available from our Steps 2 Wellbeing mental health service, based on the kind of ‘how to’ videos popular on social media. Each film would briefly explain various therapies and interventions, providing key information for patients and other health professionals, boosting recovery rates and reducing the risk of relapses.

Little Steps

Set up a regular, peer-led support group for people who have used the Steps 2 Wellbeing mental health service. Run by volunteers with similar life experiences, it would allow people to discuss their mental health in a ‘safe space’ – helping to combat loneliness and isolation (particularly among older people) and reducing the risk of relapses.

Pedal Powered Professionals

Provide a set of electric bikes for community nursing staff visiting patients across the Trust. This will help staff stay fit and healthy, reduce pollution and travel costs, and bypass traffic jams. It will also set a good example to patients, and promote exercise and healthy living.