Building a learning organisation in a child and adolescent mental health service.

In recent business literature, the model of the learning organisation has been proposed as a solution to the problem of continually changing environments and increasing consumer expectations of maximum quality and value for money. The model seems highly appropriate for health services, which are staffed by educated professional staff who must become more adaptive and concerned with improving consumer outcomes. This case study describes how the principles of learning organisations have been applied to the design of a new structure and the creation of a learning culture within a mental health service for children and adolescents.