CCG Improvement & Assessment Framework
An essential part of the service that we provide to organisations is to be able to directly demonstrate how the work they do has an impact on National Outcome Frameworks. As the policy environment changes then we can easily incorporate new developments into our Risk...
Innovation vs Adaptation
Everyone loves an innovative solution. They are exciting and they are different. They can allow people to see processes, they are utterly familiar with, in a new light. They can revitalise a flagging work force. If they work. One of the key platforms in will...
Open Data Will Create More Responsive Commissioning
When you are commissioning new services for a community how often do you use live data to design services? Do you know current level of different needs in the areas you commission for? Do you know how that need has changed in the last months or year? If the answer to...
Public Health: Solutions in your Pocket
One of the problems with having any sort of debate on Twitter, about something as complex as Public Health, is there just isn't room to make a coherent and nuanced point. This morning I was struck by @RoyLilley's blog post on the challenges that Public Health has to...
New: Substance Misuse Risk Map
This is a Risk Map that we've been working on for quite a while. Probably more than any other service area substance misuse lends itself to our approach that focusses on protective factors and prevention. The many and complex issues that people present to services...
Supporting Organisations to Work Together
There is a growing realisation, from organisations that support people to improve their Health and Wellbeing, that it is how they work together that makes the real difference. Solely focussing on the issue that people present to services is unlikely to lead to...
New: Mental Health Risk Map
We are really pleased to be able to launch our Mental Health Risk Map. This risk map is designed specifically for organisations that work with people with mental health conditions. As with all of our risk maps the focus is not only on the diagnosed condition but the...
Social Prescribing: Who owns the outcomes?
I've been really pleased to see a growing enthusiasm within the NHS for social prescribing. In terms of preventing ill health and improving wellbeing, it is essential that we make better use of the people and resources that already exist in our communities. Moving...
An Existential Question About Commissioning: Quality over Quantity
I’ve got an existential question about commissioning. Although it’s a question about commissioning it relates in just the same way to people who commission services and those that provide them. When working with organisations to achieve our Quality Mark for Evidence...
What is asset based commissioning?
Over the years I’ve heard many organisations talk about the desire to move away from commissioning services based on need and move to asset based commissioning. Whilst it’s something I’ve heard discussed many times in many places it’s not something I’ve often seen...
Effectiveness vs Good Intentions
When you are designing or commissioning a new service where do you start? Do you start with an idea of what the service should look like and build a specification around that? Or do you start with the change you would like to achieve and build a service that you know...
Demonstrating the Link Between Housing and Health
Everyone knows there is a link between decent housing and improved health and wellbeing. It appears so obvious but this is an area that is still frequently ignored in commissioning improvements in health and wellbeing. Whilst you will see the recognition of the role...
Our Prediabetes Risk Map
Recently we have been working with Gateway Family Services to refine our Risk Tracker System to help them to support clients that have been diagnosed with Prediabetes as part of the National NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. Such a diagnosis can be a great shock to...
Risk Tracker
We are really pleased to be able to bring you this video guide to our Risk Tracker software. We have created this software as an easy to use, web based method of managing clients and demonstrating the impact you have with them. Over the last six months we have been...
You collect too much information
A key part of providing services to members of the public is the amount of information you need to collect. If you’re like most of the organisations that we work with then it is likely that the types of information you collect has grown over time and is now fairly...
What is an Outcome?
Do you know what an outcome is? That’s not meant to be a rude question, but if you were given a long list of the information that your organisation collects from all the people it helps, would you be able to identify what’s an activity and what’s an outcome? It’s...
Our Overview of Risk
Over the last few months we have had a great opportunity to work with Public Health England by taking place in some of their regional events. We have met a wide variety of commissioners and commissioned services and given them an overview of how we demonstrate...
Measuring Impact
How do you know what the impact of an intervention is, when you are working on a preventative agenda? Sometimes the long-term effects of an intervention will not be visible for many years. How would you know if the person you are working with would develop the thing...
A Welcome Opportunity to Respond
Last week I wrote about my issues with the way Birmingham City Council were consulting with the Third Sector on their draft strategy - you can read that post here Following that post, the Corporate Strategy team got in touch and asked me to feedback directly to them....
Third Sector Consultation – Birmingham City Council
I really want to respond to the Third Sector Draft Strategy, currently out for consultation by Birmingham City Council, but much like I did when I ran a Third Sector organisation in Birmingham I feel stifled and unable to contribute fully. My blogposts may often seem...