Change Model Stage 6: Trying out in practice

How to try out in practice

Local context is shaped by internal and external factors. Differences in local contexts can mean that change approaches used elsewhere may need to be adapted to work in your area.

It is important to be clear about which aspects of the process and/or impact are being explored when trying out in practice, and how these will be measured and understood. Having a clear process helps those involved to follow a cycle of trying out, reflecting on what did and didn’t work, and learning from this.

Different types of data can be helpful, including views of people with lived experience and practitioners, activity and outcome measures, and comparing against previous data. Data is rarely perfect but it’s often about having enough to provide the necessary insights to decide if the change should carry on, stop altogether, or be used in a different way.

People involved in change can often be worried about being seen to have ‘failed’ if an approach does not achieve what is expected – but this is important learning. It’s important to encourage openness, celebrate innovation and learn from successful and less successful changes.

Examples within IMPACT

Through considering wider evidence and engaging with people with lived experience and practitioners, the Demonstrator project in Mid and East Antrim identified opportunities to strengthen the asset-based approach. These included better engagement of social workers as a key profession that supports older people and their families.

To see how this collaboration could work differently, the project piloted the involvement of IMPACTAgewell staff within the discharge of older people from hospital alongside the social workers who were coordinating the process. This enabled the project and its partners to understand the potential contribution of the asset-based approach to people returning home from hospital and highlighted practical challenges to realising this in practice.

At the end of the Demonstrator project, there were two key changes agreed to how social work is delivered to adults in Walsall. Firstly, to introduce a ‘named worker’ model that would ensure consistency in support for people accessing social work services and, secondly, to guarantee the offer of a carer’s assessment to be completed alongside the assessment for the person.

Both approaches aimed to take a more pro-active, preventative approach to social care, to develop relationships, anticipate needs and improve care overall.

The named worker model was piloted in two localities with a variety of supports for the teams involved which responded to issues raised in the planning discussions. This included o-designed and co-delivered workshops for all pilot area staff, drop-in sessions, twice weekly team manager meetings, support from Walsall Council’s OD team on time management / outlook calendar management, and peer-to-peer wellbeing support including wellbeing breakfasts and walks. These were organised and facilitated by an external social work change agent, a local leader with lived experience, the principal social work, and senior operational manager.

The pilot projects are being reviewed by the IMPACT Evaluation team in consultation with the Project Sponsors at Walsall Council so the impact of the changes can be effectively communicated.

Following on from the Leaving Long Stay Hospital Network, In Control Scotland created toolkits called ‘No Time to Waste’, one designed for professionals, and ‘lived and loved’ and easy ready versions for individuals with learning disabilities and autistic people and their families.

These aim to prompt reflection on issues such as person-centred approaches, power sharing and accountability relating to long term hospitalisations and were launched at in-person and online events.

Three organisations representing different parts of the system are piloting the toolkit:

  • Key – a housing association provider that personalises support and housing solutions for people with disabilities
  • Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership – outreach team are looking for support since the hospital ward closed down
  • Edinburgh Napier University – who are teaching the next generation of social care workers.