Cathy Burke and Keeley Sheldon describe how giving staff a stake in discussing service changes has stimulated innovative thinking and improved care

To ensure that community health services are as good as they can be, professional leaders in Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire, decided to engage staff using a method attributed to the World Café movement. The adopted model gives staff an opportunity to influence the development of services, and focuses on six areas: end of life care; health and wellbeing and reducing inequalities; children, young people and families; rehabilitation; acute care closer to home; and long-term conditions. Staff have appreciated being involved and there is now an action plan for each service area to continue its improvement.