Contribution to the whole programme of work
Our co-design philosophy is work with those most affected by workforce challenges to create change and improvement.
Co-design helps to translate initial research findings into change, with groups of relevant stakeholders. Our co-design approach will be adapted project-by-project to address the workforce challenges identified by other workstreams. We will prioritise the issues considered most pressing for the primary care and maternity workforce.
The first step is to understand what really matters to those involved, and then translate that understanding into workable changes and improvements. Testing of new opportunities will start on a small scale to assess workability and suitability for wider use.
Approach and methods
Our planned approach adapts the Experience-Based Co-Design (EBCD) model originally developed within the NHS. This model is particular to healthcare, is time-managed and engages a full range of stakeholders. We will develop and map those ideas with the people most directly affected.
This process involves a series of workshops to ensure that improvement ideas from all levels of an organisation are heard and valued. Co-designing together then helps turn ideas into prototypes (e.g. a patient-facing poster, draft policy change, staff-created handbook, or digital notice board) that can be shown to others or tried out on a smaller local scale.
- For example, where differing viewpoints on a workforce issue arise between patient-facing staff, and policymakers or leadership groups, the co-design process will explore promising options that could work across perspectives. An observer to our process would see discussion and sketching out of new ideas or different ways of working in a workshop-style group.
Challenges and limitations
This is a test and learn approach, accepting that some ideas will not work at first. Trying them out is necessary to gain buy-in, get feedback, and learn what to try next. Making potential changes visible as small, ‘unfinished’ pilots can encourage those who see them to think about other ways to improve. The outcome may be a range of tested and refined resources that fit especially well with local practice. These can then act as a model to be fitted to other locales and eventually scaled, for example to suit a wide range of underserved communities facing a common workforce challenge.
Opportunities in this workstream
We are keen to explore potential project opportunities with teams who are planning upcoming changes, as the co-design approach is particularly effective in supporting change and improvement. Drivers for change might include adapting to new central policies, sharing responsibilities more fairly, improving staff retention, gaining a fresh perspective on long-standing challenges, and more.
Specific opportunities will be shared on our Get Involved page.
