30 October 2025

Applications are now open for the CNWL Quality Improvement (QI) Coach Development Programme 2022.

Starting in January 2026, this course runs over a four-month period, during which you will actively coach a project towards improvement whilst attending a mix of in-person and virtual training across six days. Places are open for 20 participants in this cohort.

Staff completing QI Coach training will be expected to provide QI advice and guidance in their local area and coach priority improvement projects reporting directly to local service leads who hold responsibility for improvement.

As a result of this programme, participants will:

  • Learn how to coach improvement teams on how to develop, test, and implement changes
  • Learn how to use the Model for Improvement and Six Stages of Improvement as a roadmap to improvement
  • Support teams to identify change ideas and testing them using PDSA cycles
  • Become skilled in how to use data for improvement, including how to use statistical process control charts, and other key quality improvement tools
  • Build skills in team facilitation, communication, decision making, and understanding team culture
  • Apply just-in-time teaching of improvement skills to team members in order to advance the team’s work
  • Learn change theory
  • Learn concepts of implementation, sustainability, and scale-up
  • Leave with a specific plan for how you will continue coaching your team and prepare yourself to coach subsequent teams

Essential Criteria for application

  • CNWL Member of Staff
  • Experience of undertaking a QI project
  • Evidence of completing previous QI training
  • Able to commit 2 hours per week to coach QI project teams
  • Managerial support for application
  • Service lead sponsorship

The deadline for applications is 5pm on 12 December 2025

All dates are full-day sessions unless otherwise indicated. Please note that participation in two in-person sessions is required as part of the training programme.

  • 13 January 2026
  • 26 January 2026
  • 17 February 2026
  • 5 March 2026
  • 16 March 2026 (in person London, Trust HQ)
  • 2 April 2026 (in person London, Trust HQ)

CNWL staff can apply by completing the application form here.

If you have any questions please reach out to the QI team cnw-tr.improvementsupport@nhs.net

Click here to read more about the QI Coach role description.  
Click here to read more about the course strtucture.