The Gold Improvement Coach programme is designed to develop a network of staff across the Trust with a combination of QI and coaching skills who can help to embed and support local Quality Improvement Activities.

The Gold Improvement Coach Programme

Quality Improvement is about making a real difference, directly or indirectly to patient care. It’s not about finding new clinical approaches (research) but about improving our own systems and processes to make them more patient focused, efficient, timely or relevant to the latest clinical guidelines.

The role of the Gold QI coach will help to support Improvers at a local level to help ensure the success of their Improvement work. The role will also work within the Specialty to ensure that the improvement efforts are focused on the areas that are most needed so that limited resource is appropriately directed.

The Gold programme will also enable you to learn new skills or fine tune and use existing ones. It also provides an opportunity to become part of the wider Gloucestershire Safety & Quality Improvement Academy and be a member of the Gold Improvement Coach Network.

The programme consists of an introductory session and 8 modules. There will also be Gold Coaching Practice Reflective Review Sessions (formerly Continuing Development Sessions) to support you as a Gold Coach and you will need to attend a minimum of 1 per year.


Programmes in Progress

Our 7th cohort commenced at the beginning of 2023.

Upcoming Programmes

If you are interested in completing the Gold Programme and would like to be added to our waiting list please email ghn-tr.gsqia@nhs.net with subject line “GOLD Waiting List”.

Application to be an Improvement Coach

You must obtain support from your manager and commit to attend all of the dates. This is more than a training programme. By taking part you are committing to an active role as a Gold Improvement Coach in your speciality/area.


You can access the Gold Improvement Coach SharePoint site where you can find all course materials, interactive discussion boards, the workbook for completion and ongoing reflective practice sheets to continue your reflective practice beyond the Gold programme. You will also find other reading materials and information available. If you have any feedback for how to improve this site please email ghn-tr.gsqia@nhs.net.



Q Community

Q is an initiative connecting people with improvement expertise across the UK, led by the Health Foundation and supported and co-funded by NHS Improvement.

Q’s mission is to foster continuous and sustainable improvement in health and care. We’re creating opportunities for people to come together as an improvement community – sharing ideas, enhancing skills and collaborating to make health and care better.

A list of Trust staff who are members of the Q can be found in the Q directory.


View our Gold Improvement Coaches

Qualified Gold coaches in our Trust are:

Andrea Beech, oral & maxillofacial
John Boyes, microbiology
Margaret Collins, nutrition support team
Suzie Cro, deputy director of quality
Tracey Cullerne, oncology
Dr. Chris Custard, acute medicine
Jo Daubeney, maternity
Catrin Davies
Natasha Davy
Deborah Elliott, critical care, pain
Lizzie Hemlock, policy systems
Kate Horton, neonates
Matthew Little, divisional quality officer (medicine)
Dr. Helen Mansfield, emergency medicine
Rebecca Mustow, pharmacy
Rebecca Offord, critical care, pain and vascular access services
Adele Pugh, women & children
Lisa Riddington, library and knowledge services
Dr. Charlie Sharp, respiratory medicine
Emma-Jane Smith
Zara Strinati, oncology
Dr. Hilly Webb-Peploe, clinical psychology