Methods, Tools and Approaches
There is a large and rapidly growing body of material on tools and approaches for integration and change in health and social services. Given the range of materials available it is only possible to highlight a few useful resources.
At the same time as recommending these texts, all of them come with a health warning. Many of the tools and approaches are imported from industry with linear production chains and so require adaptation or rethinking for use in the complex contexts of health and social care organisations. In addition, many of the methods outlined in the texts below focus on change through single activities, such as workshops, or through focused inputs, such as short-term change processes, and tend not to look at systematic and long-term change in complex organisations. Nevertheless, taken together and used with caution, the methods, tools and approaches can provide the basis on which integration and change can be achieved.
Iles V, Cranfield S (2004) Developing Change Management Skills: A resource for health care professionals and Managers. Service Delivery and Organisation Research and Development Programme - http://www.tin.nhs.uk/tools--techniques/choosing-a-service
NHS Faculty of Health Informatics, The Health Informatics Programme -Supporting the NHS Faculty of Health Informatics - http://www.informatics.nhs.uk/news/faculty.html
NHS Modernisation Agency (no date) Improvements in Emergency Care: Case Studies - http://www.modern.nhs.uk/scripts/default.asp?site_id=35&id=7902
NHS Modernisation Agency (September 2004) 10 High Impact Changes for Service Improvement and Delivery - http://www.wise.nhs.uk/cmsWISE/HIC/HIC+Intro.htm
NHS Modernisation Agency (October 2004) The PCT Guide to Applying the 10 High Impact Changes - http://www.wise.nhs.uk/sites/wisekmforum/High%20Impact%20Changes/PCT/PCTGuide_10HighImpactChanges.pdf
NHS Modernisation Agency (2005) Improvement Leaders Guides - http://www.portal.modern.nhs.uk/sites/toolandtechniques/ILG/pages/The%20Guides.aspx
Pratt, J, Gordon, P and Plamping D (1999) Working Whole Systems: Putting theory into practice in organisations. Kings Fund