“Connecting the Connectors”
Facilitating Change in Health and Social Care: A Collaborative Approach by Network Convenors
Introduction
In the often niche and confusing world of health and social care, convening positive change demands a lot. Recently, through the Better Way, some of us involved in that have come together to form a group. This group of ‘connectors’ or ‘convenors’ have been inspired by Olivia Butterworth who brought us together into conversation some months ago. We have been discovering some shared beliefs and principles that shape our work as well as enjoying, within our group, some practical benefits of skill sharing.
In this piece we have a go at delving into more of this, exploring how we can harness those principles in our work to effectively influence change in the world of health and social care.
Firstly, it’s evident we share a strong belief and interest in:
The importance of Starting with People and putting them at the forefront of their own lives
Highlighting the significance of community
Exploring ways to build a service system that is in harmony with a person’s vision for a fulfilling life rather than the clunky and often ineffective one we have now that pulls people into a rigid service system where they risk becoming a “statistic”.
Finding the ‘sweet spots’ that enable both local and national change along these lines.
1. Starting with People
So far, we have centred many conversations around the principle of prioritising people and their vision of a better life as a starting point for good health. We appear to have a shared understanding that each citizen possesses unique values, aspirations, and preferences regarding their healthcare journey. We believe that in order to both inspire and sustain transformation we have to shift the focus from traditional, rigid healthcare approaches towards a more person-centred paradigm that “starts with people”, as Olivia put it so succinctly.
We have found similarities in that our individual roles involve actively engaging people who work with those termed ‘patients’ and ‘service users’ in decision-making processes, promoting a participatory approach where their voices are valued, respected and acted upon. We seek to create a culture of inclusivity and dignity within the healthcare system. In doing so, we can collaboratively advance the cause of true person-centred care, where people and their families are not passive recipients but active participants in shaping their own health and future.
2. Nurturing Community
We have also found a shared belief in the influence of community being pivotal in propelling change in health and social care. As network convenors, we recognise the significance of a strong and inclusive community as it cultivates a support network and encourages collective efforts towards more ‘holistic’ well-being. Our shared work involves building and strengthening community relationships, which we believe should serve as the bedrock of health and social care transformation.
We seem to share a belief that services should work in collaboration with local people, organisations, community leaders, to shape more comprehensive, personalised care that extends beyond clinical boundaries and paradigms. The UK is full of community-driven ideas and initiatives that are actively addressing social determinants of ill health and poor wellbeing, including access to housing, education, and employment. Money in the NHS and social care system should be better used to understand, build on and nurture them more.
3. Complementary Services and Fulfilling Lives
Efforts to foster change in health and social care, led by networks that we seek to convene, appear to hinge on constructing a service system that aligns seamlessly with an individual's vision for a meaningful life. This vision is shaped by the person receiving care and encompasses their goals, values, and cultural context.
As a group we have appear to have a shared belief that we need to see a genuinely integrated approach that dissolves the divisions between healthcare, mental health services, social support, and other essential elements of well-being whilst building on and nurturing the power of people and communities. By breaking down these silos, we have a chance a creating a more human system that is respectful and supportive of a person’s unique path toward a fulfilling life.
4. Searching for the ‘sweet spots’
As indicated above, we believe that a lot of the change that matters most will happen close to people, in their communities, and this is where a lot of our attention is focused. But we also know that piecemeal efforts, place by place, are not in themselves enough. We also need wider action to address structural inequality and discrimination, big changes in the regulatory systems, nationwide efforts to improve housing, to tackle environmental degradation, and so on.
So, we are searching for the ‘sweet spots’ that combine the local and the national, community development and social justice, the personal and the political – recognising in each case that the one without the other is never sufficient.
This was drafted by Nick Sinclair and discussed and welcomed at a meeting of the group in October 2023