New policy development and implementation - supporting innovation and change
The Partnership can help you to implement policy by supporting the implementation and evaluation phases. We can write guidelines perhaps working with a reference group to test them out. We can advise on the best way to launch and promote the policy as well as devising the training plans and methods to support implementation. We have also devised appraisal schemes and the means of evaluating the impact of the policy.
To Boldly Go - the M-A-C Aims and Approach
We have been used most often at the very early stages of policy or programme development. We aim to help those
tasked with creating new policies and programmes by reacting quickly in a way that meets project leader needs
to understand what is going on. For example, the consultation programme for the City and Hackney Primary
Care Trust was a first for them. We prepared and had printed the consultation document ready for circulation
within 4 weeks of being commissioned.
For the NHS Modernisation Agency, we ran a meeting to discuss the learning from early Pilot Patient Forums where we used the open agenda style of meeting where participants set the agenda on the day. This approach makes it more likely that the issues put up for discussion were real and urgent for those present. A real 'experience exchange' - not speechifying following an agenda cooked up by others away from the front line. We also devised and fielded a survey of pilot ICAS sites within 12 weeks of commissioning using our own complaint management evaluation framework. This was action research meeting pressing demands for feedback and learning.
Practicing as well as Preaching
The partners work both as consultants and as practitioners. Their current experience in the health service involves service as a non-executive director and serving on the board of a PEC and being members of a GP surgery patient group. In short, we don't sell it unless we know how to do it.
M-A-C Menu
These projects draw on the full range of our skills in
- Public communications - creating and facilitating events and preparing notes of the proceedings
- Writing and Editing - putting together material in a way that connects with users and policy makers
- Research - we have particular skills in 'user experience' research and understanding reactions to complaints
- Learning and Training - creating learning plans for targeted audiences with particular experience in engagement with user and others outside organisations such as NHS Foundation Trusts.
Project Implementation and Costs
The projects differ greatly as would the costs. We work with our clients to arrive at fixed project costs where this is feasible. Where we are embarking on a project dealing with something so new that meaningful and accurate cost estimates are not possible, we can agree a 'minimum/ maximum' retainer over the project period. This maintains management control over costs with all activities being documented and referenced for invoicing purposes.
