ESTHER

OVERVIEW OF THE ESTHER MODEL

The ESTHER Model was created in the region Jönköping in Sweden in 1997. The model has two main purposes:

To create smoother and safer pathways for ESTHER.
To use providers resources more efficiently with a communal goal of always doing what matters to ESTHER.

The ESTHER Model strives to improve patients experience and the quality of care received by people (ESTHER) through discussing the needs of ESTHER openly and treating ESTHER, their family and networks as equal partners in their care.

The ESTHER Model has been running in Sweden for more than 20 years and has had a number of positive outcomes including:

30% drop in hospital admissions
Reduction in hospital readmissions after 30 days for patients over 65
Decreased length of hospital stays
ESTHERs reporting that they feel safe

Events

ESTHER Ambassador e-Learning:

An ESTHER Ambassador is someone who promotes ESTHER and raises awareness of the model and with those, they come into contact with through their work. Face to face training is currently suspended due to Covid 19.

ESTHER Ambassador Training is currently available via the e-Learning platform.

For staff working in Kent County Council you will find this on Delta, please log-in to: https://www.delta-learning.com/course/search.php?search=ESTHER+Ambassador+Awarenes

For anyone working outside Kent County Council, Please copy this link into your browser : www.scils.co.uk and register your details, click on your status and enter the registration number 490KECC, or email us at designandlearningcentre@kent.gov.uk

ESTHER Improvement Coach Refresher Training - 8-2-22

ESTHER STORIES AND EXPERIENCES

VISIT THE ESTHER NETWORK ON FACEBOOK

ESTHER INTERNATIONAL

ESTHER BRIEF OVERVIEW

BUT WHO IS ESTHER?

ESTHER is a fictitious person and can be anyone who has had contact with Health and Social Care Services. The model was named ESTHER as this was a common name at the time in Sweden and everyone knew an ESTHER!

While today ESTHER is a fictitious person in 1997 ESTHER was real person who had to tell their story 32 times over 10 hours starting from the District Nurse who saw her that morning to all the professionals she came into contact with until she was admitted to hospital.

WHY ESTHER FOR KENT?

Organisations that have introduced the ESTHER Model have reported a number of benefits such as:

Improved skills and competencies of the workforce
Enhanced quality of care
Positive impact on recruitment and retention
Supporting an efficient flow of people through the system and improved communication between organisations
As a result of these reported outcomes we have strategic agreement to drive the transformation of the workforce by implementing the model across health and social care workforce including providers and the voluntary sector.

ESTHER IN KENT

The ESTHER Model in Kent was adopted in 2016 as it was recognised as an excellent way health and social care being able to demonstrate that there is a clear vision and credible strategy to deliver high-quality care and support while promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empowering. In Kent we are now asking “What matters to ESTHER?” instead of “What is the matter with ESTHER?”.

To support the roll our ESTHER in Kent we have two training opportunities available the ESTHER Coach, which was adopted from Sweden, and the ESTHER Ambassador, which is a unique opportunity we developed here in Kent. To find out more about these roles please see our Frequently Asked Questions.

In Kent alongside these roles we have also introduced four levels of continuous quality improvement:

ESTHER: To listen and learn from ESTHERs experience of care which can drive future improvement projects
The Workforce: Providing training and support programmes to the health and social care workforce including the care sector to support the implementation of the ESTHER culture
Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs): Ensuring all members of these teams feel empowered to ask the question “What matters to ESTHER?”
The System: Introducing and holding ESTHER cafes which are owned by local communities and provide a platform for ESTHERs to share their experiences of care and how they think this could be improved while health and social care professionals listen, develop and feedback conclusions to their organisations and commissioners
The Kent ESTHER philosophy and way of working has gained recognition by national bodies such as Health Education England, the Department of Heath and Social Care and recently the Chief Social Worker for Adults Annual Report 2017-18.

To see Kent’s progress to date and our key ESTHER Milestones take a look at our timeline.

WHAT IS NEXT - ESTHER AMBASSADOR E-LEARNING.

ESTHER Ambassador e-Learning – copy this link into your browser : www.scils.co.uk and register your details, click on ‘your status’ and enter the registration number 490KECC.

To keep up to date with ESTHER in Kent sign up to our ESTHER Newsletter