The Importance of Systems Change

Author: Gemma Finn, Strategic Manager, Changing Futures Programme

I am privileged to lead the Changing Futures Programme in Stoke-on-Trent, which prides itself on ensuring that the voice of lived experience is not only heard, but embedded within our design of current services and the vision of a future system. The value of listening to people to understand how the system works and how it can change for the better cannot be underestimated. People are at the heart of the system, understand it, and can make a difference to how it works. Experts by experience provide a powerful and authentic voice and unique insights that can challenge assumptions, motivate organisations to do things differently and highlight areas for change.

Issues such as homelessness, substance misuse, mental health and criminal justice are systemic problems. Tackling them effectively and sustainably requires local areas to understand and address the underlying causes and to change the way that services and systems operate. This work requires coordination, changes to services, policies, processes and culture, and working together to find new approaches that maximise resources and provide the most effective support for people experiencing multiple disadvantage.

System change can include changes around environment, policy, people, funding, culture, strategy, or process, that is sustainable in the long-term and transformational. While funding is available for service delivery – for example to address locally-identified gaps in provision or build capacity for more intensive ways of working with those experiencing multiple disadvantage – this will contribute to a joined-up local strategy that seeks to improve services and systems and inform future commissioning between partners.

In order for system change to be achieved, a concerted effort by policymakers, commissioners and service providers to improve access and transitions, meet people’s specific needs, deliver person-led services, invest in practitioners, and improve funding and policy decisions has the potential to shift the way the system works. These changes will enable people experiencing multiple disadvantage to receive effective support and reach their full potential.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen inspiring examples of local partnerships across the country supporting the most vulnerable people in our communities. Councils and their partners have coordinated unprecedented support efforts, local communities have established mutual aid groups to look out for their neighbours, and the ‘Everyone In’ scheme has seen thousands of rough sleepers helped into temporary accommodation. Born out of crisis and conceived in the absence of any time or precedent, this concerted effort has earnt its place in history as a time when the nation came together to achieve the remarkable. Changing Futures programmes objective is to strengthen the partnerships forged during these extraordinary circumstances. In doing so, we will improve the long-term outcomes of the most vulnerable people in our society and ensure that all we have achieved in response to this pandemic is not lost.

Within Changing Futures, The Multi-Agency Resolution Group (MaRG) highlights a clear commitment from partners to work flexibly and innovatively, and has demonstrated not only a creative, but challenging of current systems for the greater good of the individual.

Locally, our System Change priorities focus on Commissioning and Contracts, Pathways and Criteria, Data and Information Sharing and Workforce Skills and Staffing, and our engagement with partner agencies in addressing areas of good practice and scope for development as a system, has demonstrated the commitment to change, and acceptance of the system requiring this. Our focus will be on gathering evidence and data, and demonstrating the principles of joint partnership working and learning as part of the programme.