‘Working together for change’: Building relationships to advance integration

The Working Together for change programme delivered by In Control Scotland is highly valuable to advance health and social care integration.

In health and social care integration, the missing piece isn’t more policy – it’s bringing together the people who live the system with those who work within it. The ‘Working Together for Change’ programme delivered by In Control Scotland is proving that real transformation in health and social care that doesn’t come from boardrooms – it emerges when the people with lived experience and those paid to support them work together to come up with solutions that benefit everyone.

Lived experience meets professional expertise

Working together for change is a learning programme for disabled people, family carers and people who work in social work, social care and health services who want to stop talking about change and do something to make it happen. It builds on the skills, knowledge, and capacities of all participants in health and social care as equal partners. 

Through 10 carefully designed sessions mixing face-to-face and online formats, participants not only discuss what needs to change but actively design improvement projects that strengthen health and social care services across Scotland. The starting point of the programme is for the group to decide on a final goal that guides their collaboration, choosing an area of work or service to focus on allows for effective planning towards the chosen goal.

The programme’s value lies in its recognition that the people who know best what needs fixing are those living it every day. By bringing together diverse perspectives in a structured, supportive environment, participants develop both the relationships and capabilities needed to make integration work in practice.

Building  bridges and sharing power

“… for me the important thing is having supported opportunities like these to get control into communities for everyone’s wellbeing.” Participant Quote

A group of participants in West Lothian decided to work towards the following goal: ‘For the people of West Lothian to have the opportunities to live their best life’. This group currently contributes to the Health and Social Care Partnership’s Self-Directed Support project board, supporting integration in this area. Participants described building strong relationships that continue long after the programme ends.

“Working on a common goal together has been positive and empowering,” reflects one participant, capturing the programme’s collaborative spirit. Another adds: “It has been an opportunity to build relationships with colleagues from other organisations.”

The programme creates space for difficult conversations while maintaining focus on practical outcomes. The careful attention to power dynamics is one if the key strengths of this work.

“I really appreciated you taking the time to discuss all the issues around that sharing and possible imbalance of power at the beginning of the course.” – Participant Quote.

An integration catalyst

What makes this programme essential for health and social care integration isn’t just what it achieves – it’s how it achieves it. By creating safe collaborative spaces where lived experience sits at the centre, it develops the human capabilities that make integration possible.

System change is undoubtedly needed, but Working Together for Change recognises a fundamental truth: people make integration happen. The programme is paving the way for the integrated care system Scotland needs by building capabilities, fostering relationships, and empowering all participants to advocate effectively for better futures.

As a result of the programme, supported people and unpaid carers gain confidence to make positive choices about their support. Professionals become more skilled at enabling and empowering others. Communities develop increased capacity to make self-directed support work locally. And everyone involved feels better connected to a shared mission of creating good lives for all.

In a landscape often dominated by top-down initiatives, Working Together for Change proves that lasting transformation grows from the ground up – one relationship, one project, one empowered community at a time.

Join the next Working Together for Change

The next Working Together for Change programme will take place between September 2025 and March 2026. They have 20 places available and the programme will be FREE to attend for participants. We encourage you to get in touch with them and info@in-controlscotland.org.uk to find out more and book a place. Closing date for applications is 1^st July 2025.

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