Who: Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, as part of a broader Co-production Lab Wales project involving pilots of project delivery.
The brief: Working with 3 senior leaders in the health board over the course of 6 months, and holding 6x 1-hour monthly mentoring sessions with a focus on co-production, engagement and partnership working. Another co-production coach ran mentoring sessions with 3 other leaders. The aim was to contribute to culture change within the organisation, to support and embed the ways of working being developed through the pilot projects.
What I did: I listened, made notes, and we worked with whatever was on their mind and would be most useful in their current context. Sometimes it was about their workload, sometimes about relationships in their teams, and sometimes about preparing for important meetings and presentations. Giving them space and time to reflect and take stock changed the rhythm of their thinking, and their perception of their ability to juggle the completing demands on their time, which supported not just them but also their wider teams. While most of the sessions didn’t focus exclusively on co-production and engagement, this was the broader context they were operating in and the values they brought to their work, so supporting them to be effective leaders moved the co-production culture forward within the organisation.
What they said:
- “The sessions have been highly valuable and have had such a positive impact in supporting me to reflect and positively challenge the work we are enabling and embedding within the health board and wider partners. During my sessions I have felt listened to, empowered and enabled to take positive action moving forward – which has supported me in making significant progress in the work that I am supporting as part of my strategic role. As well as sessions leaving me feel inspired, motivated and valued. I want to say a huge thank you for the opportunity as these sessions have been highly valuable and I would absolutely recommend anyone to complete if there are future opportunities.”
- “It’s been very cathartic. It’s been very good to talk and hear myself think outside of my team’s supervision sessions, and managers who are in the thick of it – like me and with me. Having that space and time with an outside person – you’ve asked questions and helped me reflect. It’s definitely reduced my stress levels in these times of change. Every practitioner should have access to this, it’s made such a difference. And it’s been very timely.”
- “Just saying things out loud is helpful! You hear yourself mention things and you think, what am I doing about it.”
- “That session was really, really valuable, having the space to stop. There’s so much happening! I’m thankful for these sessions. It allows just this focusing on what are we doing, where are we with it – and the reflection time, and reassurance through talking to an expert.”
- “Thank you for your time, and for being open to shaping the agenda as needed. You remembered what I said the previous time and you asked the right questions. It’s really reduced my stress! And as well as helping me with my stress it’s helped me with my service development. Thank you also for your humanity.”
Photo by Drew Beamer on Unsplash