Transforming Practice through Education - an evaluation of the impact education can have on improving services for people and communities

The MSc leading People-centred Integrated Care has been running at the University of the West of Scotland since 2018. The programme provides a progressive pathway of Masters level study for staff working in any health or social care discipline or care setting with the aim of empowering and enabling participants to develop and lead sustainable, integrated services to achieve the Quadruple Aim of: improved population health, enhanced experience of care, more cost – effective services, and a better work- life balance for providers. A unique feature of the programme is the interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral shared learning exploring the complexities and challenges of integration from a range of perspectives and through both a person–centred and population lens. This presentation will discuss the findings from a recent IFIC Scotland roundtable event which explored reframing education and training for an integrated workforce. Evaluation of the discussion provided the programme team with the opportunity to explore and identify the impact that the students learning can have on transforming their practice to implement the Quadruple Aim. Participants’ included a small number of current and former students and the roundtable was facilitated by the programme lead. Discussion focussed on the role that education and training can play in developing an integrated workforce that is committed to transforming health and social care , through working within and in partnership with, local communities. Thematic evaluation was carried out with key findings highlighting that education and training supported and developed the participants in a variety of ways, including: - confidence building - reflective practice, which included 'so what and better together conversations. - the appreciation and value of listening to the voice of lived experience - utilising a whole systems approach to deliver services - creating the Conditions for integrated working and boundary spanning - Compassionate leadership and coaching. This evaluation has highlighted the vital role that the opportunity for shared learning and appreciation of other professional, sectoral and global perspectives has on the learner and how this can contribute to a truly transformational educational experience. Future steps are to carry out a more formal study to explore the impact of the students’ learning on their practice and to continue to grow a community of practice of transformational leaders passionate about making integrated care a reality for people and communities.