Partner Funded Projects

The QNI welcomes expressions of interest from any healthcare provider organisation to run innovation projects in partnership with us.

These opportunities are open to nurses working in any community setting, including primary care and social care, and can be in any specialism or generalist in approach. The scheme is not limited to NHS organisations – charities, community interest companies, the private sector, GP practices are also eligible. Projects must be led by nurses, but colleagues may also be involved.

The total cost charged to partner organisations of running one project with the QNI is £5,000. In addition, the organisation is expected to invest up to £5000 in the project itself – for example on staff time, project materials, travel, training and publicity. We believe this represents excellent value for a year long QI project.

Background

All programmes receive structured support from the QNI including refining objectives, project management, and identifying outcomes and evaluation. Depending on the project, we hold online meetings, in person meetings, and also undertake a site visit. All successful project leaders are invited to a QNI Awards Ceremony to receive a formal certificate of completion. In 2023, one of our partner-funded projects also won the Nursing Times Award for Nursing in Social Care.

Project leaders say the personal and professional benefits of undertaking a QNI innovation project are huge. The learning and development gained in the supportive environment of a QNI innovation programme enables nurses to realise their potential and take their career to the next level. Successful projects also bring an enhanced profile and wider recognition to the services they work for, and improvements in care for individuals, families and communities.

Another measure of success is that 67 per cent of projects going through the QNI’s innovation programme continue in one form or another after completion. Undertaking a QNI innovation project is an excellent and efficient way to use your CPD funding to deliver real results for nurses and services. Any organisation can run a project with us.

Download our Community Nursing Projects Introduction booklet 2023 with more information and background to the programme.

Self-funded projects final report summary 2023

Contact

For an initial discussion, please contact Dr Amanda Young: amanda.young@qni.org.uk.

Find more about the programme by reading case studies from previous projects or watch this short film about a project led by Gerard Wainwright, who went on to become RCN Learning Disability Nurse of the Year 2022.