We provide our clients with an independent and systematic investigation approach into how, why, and to what extent the aims and expected outcomes of a programme or project has been achieved. We include a benefit analysis and lessons learnt as part of our approach.

We ensure that the principles of evaluation; ethics, confidentiality, accountability, competency, relevancy, objectivity and independence are adhered to.

We adopt a flexible approach while carrying out the task in hand to ensure newly emerging and or changing priorities are responded to throughout any evaluation.

A Few Examples of Current/Previous Work In This Area…

• Locality Investment Plan Projects Health-Check
  Camden CCG contracted Community Matters to carry out a project health check for four projects within their Locality Investment Plan: Clinical Leadership Programme, Building Capacity and Capability of Non-Mental Health Clinical Staff in Camden and Islington Project, Integrated Networking Events Project, and Serious Incident Review Project. The health check assessed what each project set out to deliver, what was actually delivered and how informing the commissioners of the successes of the projects.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Service Mapping
  Community Matters carried out a mapping exercise of the existing COPD services in Camden including community services and service user support groups. This work was commissioned by UCLH in partnership with Camden CCG. This led to the review of the COPD services, and options were developed by a working group led by UCLH and Royal Free for the future commissioning of these services.

Community Matters adopts the main principles of Prince II and MSP (Managing Successful Programmes) for programme and project management.

The main steps and considerations in our project management approach are listed below:

Identification – Pre-Project The project or programme is scoped and a project brief developed. The strategic fit and vision is defined in this stage, and the main project documentation drafted.

Definition / Initiation The project is fully defined and the documentation finalised and agreed. The project governance is developed and the required bodies including the project board are established. Project deliverables are also fully developed within this phase and the final timeline and project budget are agreed by the project board. Outcomes and benefits are also mapped out and their monitoring and measurement agreed at this phase.

Delivery The delivery of the project is managed using fit for purpose structures and tools. Reporting is carried out and any issues observed are captured through the issues register and lessons log. Any necessary changes to the project are controlled through the change request process, ensuring that all changes are agreed by the project board and documented.

Closure The project closure ensures that all lessons learned throughout the project are reviewed and benefits mapped out. Any benefits that have not been realised yet are handed over to the ‘business as usual’, together with a high level evaluation of the deliverables.

A Few Examples of Current/Previous Work In This Area…

• Islington CEPN
  Supported by Health Education England, Community Education Provider Networks (CEPNs) are local networks to support workforce development across health and social care by strategically coordinating education and training activities in response to changing population demands, and local priorities.

  Islington CEPN was established as one of the first wave of CEPNs in 2014 and Community Matters was invited to manage the programme in May of that year. In its first year Islington CEPN carried out an integrated workforce assessment, identifying the local workforce’s education, training and development needs in order to better respond to local population health and social care demand through integrated care. Islington CEPN piloted the Care Certificate programme which has now been developed as an integrated training programme across Islington, Haringey and Camden. Islington CEPN is the pioneer for the concept of Super Hubs for the community and primary care nursing workforce, leading to the development of the NCL wide Super Training Hub. Islington CEPN continues to be a network that develops innovative solutions for local needs adopting new roles such as Care Navigators, Medical Assistants, Nursing Associates and EM fellowships.

  Islington and Haringey are working collaboratively towards the implementation of a population based approach to health and care delivery – the Wellbeing Programme. This seeks to bring together key partnerships across this smaller footprint to deliver a localised element of sustainability and transformation, aligned to that of the national STP (Sustainability and Transformation Plan).

  Islington CEPN is currently focusing on the rapid skilling up of primary and social care workforce for mental health conditions; introducing Traineeship to Level 7 projects, including apprenticeships and piloting group consultations. The CEPN is additionally developing an alignment between CEPNs and Care Closer to Home Integrated Networks (CHINs). Another aspect of the work includes the Identification and Referral to Improve Safety (IRIS) “domestic violence and abuse” training project.

• Camden CEPN
  Supported by Health Education England, Community Education Provider Networks (CEPNs) are local networks to support workforce development across health and social care by strategically coordinating education and training activities in response to changing population demands, and local priorities.

  Community Matters was asked to develop Camden CEPN as a programme towards the end of 2014. We supported this process by engaging key stakeholders, facilitating a conversation about an agreed vision, and developing a programme in alignment with this shared vision as well as HEE priorities. Following the confirmation of funding for this programme, Community Matters was asked to also manage the delivery of Camden CEPN.

  In establishing the CEPN we engaged local health and social care organisations, including the voluntary sector as stakeholders and carried out research to determine the changing local population needs and demands. As part of our due diligence we examined how these wants and needs were currently met by the workforce and what development activities were then required to improve how these demands were met in a more integrated way.

  Hundreds of staff members have since benefited from the education and training activities we have developed. In 2016 and 2017 we established multi-professional learning groups in four localities in Camden. In these, people from different professional groups are able to learn together which strengthens the local networks and improves collaboration.

  In order to better coordinate all local activities in response to national and regional developments, Camden CEPN recently became the workforce work stream of the Local Care Strategy, which also aligns the local agenda with Sustainability and Transformation Plans.

  Camden CEPN is currently focusing on developing alignment between CEPN and Care Closer to Home Integrated Networks (CHINs). It is introducing local networks for newly qualified professionals as well as primary care professionals and developing patient facing sessions led by GP and pharmacists. The aim of this is to increase awareness of when to seek GP appointments. The CEPN is also piloting group consultations and introducing Traineeship to Level 7 projects, including apprenticeships.

• Haringey CEPN
  Supported by Health Education England, Community Education Provider Networks (CEPNs) are local networks to support workforce development across health and social care by strategically coordinating education and training activities in response to changing population demands, and local priorities.

  Haringey CEPN was established in 2015 as a second wave CEPN. Community Matters was engaged in April 2015 to manage its development.

  Islington and Haringey are working collaboratively towards the implementation of a population based approach to health and care delivery – the Wellbeing Programme. This seeks to bring together key partnerships across this smaller footprint to deliver a localised element of sustainability and transformation, aligned to that of the national STP (Sustainability and Transformation Plan).

  Haringey CEPN is currently delivering Integrated Care Certificate Programme, Integrated Learning Events and MECC (Making Every Contact Count), in response to locally identified development, training and education needs.  The CEPN is introducing Traineeship to Level 7 projects, including apprenticeships and further developing mentoring and clinical supervision. Haringey are active in the development of student nursing placements, the Nursing Associate Pilot and the Health Care Assistants’ career pathway.

• Enfield CEPN
  Supported by Health Education England, Community Education Provider Networks (CEPNs) are local networks to support workforce development across health and social care by strategically coordinating education and training activities in response to changing population demands, and local priorities.

  Enfield CEPN was established as one of the second wave CEPNs in 2015. The main aim of this programme was to establish a local network across health and social care sector to support Integrated Care Pathways through workforce development, education and training activities. Community Matters was programme managed Enfield CEPN between April 2015 and March 2018, coordinated its activities and ensured these responds to local, regional and national priorities.

  Enfield CEPN successfully re-established Practice Nurse and Practice Managers’ Fora, as well as developing and delivering a number of key education and training.

• BHR CEPN Supported by Health Education England, Community Education Provider Networks (CEPNs) are local networks to support workforce development across health and social care by strategically coordinating education and training activities in response to changing population demands, and local priorities.

  The Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and Redbridge CEPN was established in early 2015 as a second wave CEPN and Community Matters was asked to programme manage the network in August of that year. After engaging the network’s key stakeholders we worked with them to identify local needs and to develop and deliver education, training and workforce development activities. As part of the BHR CEPN Programme Management, we translated local needs and priorities into successful funding applications with defined projects, and supported local stakeholders to deliver these projects.

  In particular, Community Matters managed and coordinated the delivery of;
  -General Practice Nursing/New to Practice Nursing Schemes
  -Localities Investment Fund activities
  -Transformation Fund activities
  -CEPN Governance Restructure
  -Network Development, including defining stakeholder
  -Effective reporting to Health Education England

  Community Matters also carried out and regularly reviewed a stakeholder analysis and developed a communication and engagement strategy based on this. Community Matters also led the communications activities, including the production of regular e-newsletters and management of the BHR CEPN social network accounts.

• International Philosophy Exchange in Action Project Development and Management
  Community Matters, in partnership with Balik Arts and TED College in Turkey, developed The International Philosophy Exchange in Action Project and successfully secured funding from the European Union for its delivery. As part of this, a group of young people in Turkey and in the UK have taken part in an educational project that explored the cultural exchanges between different parts of the world. There was a particular focus on Anatolian philosophers and how they influenced European values, including equality, human rights and responsibilities, and democracy. Cambridge University was also engaged as a delivery partner in this project.

When the various services delivered by clients are spread across a range of different disciplines or departments we aim to make the service delivery and in particular end-user experiences as seamless as possible. Not only do our clients often have specific services in many areas but they also partner with external organisations.

Our partnership approach allows us to work closely with our clients to understand their business processes and identify key opportunities for integration.

The areas in which Community Matters assists clients are:

– Mapping of services with clearly defined areas of customer facing services and back-office / support functions
– Identifying overlaps, duplications across departments and organisations
– Understanding service specifications and expectations
– Agreeing the end result
– Developing a design brief
– Carrying out a functional assessment
– Defining a new business model and the change process
– Supporting organisations to implement the change process
– Using Quality Improvement methodologies as an integral part of change processes

A Few Examples of Current/Previous Work In This Area…

• Leadership Development Assessment Support
  Community Matters provided leadership development support to NHS London. This included using 360 Feedback Surveys and identifying strengths, weaknesses and learning and development needs. It resulted in the production of individual and team learning and development plans, supporting individuals to increase their resilience within a fast-changing and a highly political environment.