Programme Summary
Why this Programme?
Closer integration between health services, social services and voluntary services is a key component of a future Scottish health and social care system. This system needs to be responsive, quick, personal and delivered in the proximity of people's homes if it is to reduce the use of acute health service facilities.
But how can you make integration 'work' in your specific local setting?
Integration, that is bringing different services and sectors together in care delivery - is a complex task at the best of times. Policy pressures, shifting and conflicting demands and changes in services and personnel increase the challenge.
Improved use of information can help staff in the planning, execution, ongoing monitoring and learning from integrated projects no matter what circumstances. This learning can also benefit organisations in terms of improved strategic service development.
Information comes from a range of sources, for example national and local routinely collected data, bespoke forms of information generation from interviews, audit, research and process-mapping. In addition, staff's 'tacit' knowledge of the organisation and the service for which they are responsible is a source of important and valuable data. However, information is often an underused resource. Individuals and services may collect information, but it is not always appropriate for service planning, nor is it necessarily used and shared in ways that contribute to planning and strategic development of the care system as a whole. The Programme is designed to address this gap.
Bulding on two successful years!
The design and delivery of the Programme builds on lessons learned over two years with 24 students from all over Scotland working on a variety of integration projects.
Programme aims
To help participants become more effective in integrated service development by improving the way they use information.
Who should apply?
This CPD programme is aimed at senior practitioners, operational and middle managers of health, social and voluntary services.
What will they learn?
On successful completion of the programme the participants will be able to
Understand
- 'Integration' : relationships between theory, rhetoric and reality of integration
- Knowledge: how individuals and organisations learn
- Tools of service development: Quality Improvement Tools and how to use them for maximum effectiveness in development of complex health and social care services
Apply the understanding
- Improved skills in addressing local complexities of 'integration'
- Improved information handling skills
- Improved skills in adapting Quality Improvement Tools to local circumstances
Individual Learning and Organisational Development Combined
Participants are asked to bring with them an outline of a project concerning the use of information in integrated service development. This project must be agreed with their managers to ensure organisational buy-in. During the programme, they will be supported to apply their newly acquired skills to develop this project and share their learning as appropriate within their organisations.
Applicants should have an interest and basic skills in use of information, but advanced skills in information handling and analysis are not a requirement - we will work with participants to develop and make the most of the skills they have.