Partnership toward Third Sector Improvement review of 2019

Partnership toward third sector improvement review activities for the ALLIANCE annual report

The Partnership toward Third Sector Improvement explores, across third and public sectors, the understanding and application of quality improvement methodologies to facilitate continuous improvement within the third sector. This included:

• Mapping, through a literature review, academic evidence of quality improvement activities undertaken by, or in partnership, with UK based third sector organisations
• Progressing broad third and cross sector workforce engagement to identify understanding, implementation and barriers to using quality improvement
• A plethora of information was gathered and refined through framework analysis

The literature review identified a range of improvement tools and frameworks, though there is no dominant or unified approach to quality improvement across the third sector. The academic evidence base of third sector improvement activity consisted largely of qualitative case studies. Examples of third sector quality improvement activity were also found by a search of grey literature.

To ensure a broad range of views and experiences we engaged with third and public sector colleagues through one to one interviews and focus groups across Scotland.

Stakeholder engagement identified experiences, enablers and barriers to undertaking improvement activity. Third sector enablers include: a consistent person-centred approach, with small to medium sized third sector organisations reporting their creativity and flexibility as a positive asset.

Participants expressed preferences for co-producing QI educational offers through a blended approach and contextualised examples.

The barriers identified included: funding limitations, time requirement, language and terminology.

The project generated a plethora of data and information and when analysed, was honed into key themes which informed the development of improvement competencies for the third sector workforce. All of this supported the coproduction of an educational offer which was tested and refined at a cross-sector workshop. Further testing through third and public sector collaboration will be progressed in 2020.

“It’s been really useful working with the ALLIANCE and other partners to better understand the QI learning needs of the social services workforce, and the third sector in particular.  We know from our engagement with workers and employers that different aspects of quality assurance, quality planning and quality improvement are being used, but we also recognise that sometimes the difference between these is not always fully understood, nor is there a full awareness of the different frameworks, tools and techniques available to support these processes, especially quality improvement.  The research the Alliance has completed will provide a more detailed picture of the use of QI methodology, tools and techniques in third sector organisations and will inform how we work together to support the workforce to development capability and capacity in this area.  We’re looking forward to continuing our work with the Alliance and other partners in this area.”

Public sector stakeholder

“Quality Improvement isn’t a term used regularly in the 3rd sector. However, constantly reviewing practice, making services more responsive and effective is core to 3rd sector practice. The difference perhaps is that Quality Improvement uses a formal approach to the analysis of performance and systematic efforts to improve it, often in the 3rd sector this is more organic. However, everyone’s practice and therefor people’s experience of using services can be improved, and perhaps there is more the 3rd sector could learn about formal QI and more that statutory services could learn from innovation in the 3rd sector. However, for something meaningful to evolve to make this happen requires an understanding of the respective lens of what improvement means in different sectors and the tools which can support that. The work by the ALLIANCE is a great step forward in enabling this to happen as core to this process was engaging with diverse stakeholders to understand their perception not only of QI but the various measurements tools available. Garnering not only an enthusiasm by stakeholders to share what they have found works for them, but to learn from others what other tools are available, however, using a process of co creation meant the outcome of this was relevant to stakeholders so the impact of adoption of new tools will be increased as the materials shared are not only relevant, but the valuable work the sector is already doing is acknowledged and respected.

To seek change without engaging stakeholders would be to impose a system which maybe neither relevant or wanted, to engage meaningfully with stakeholders helps create new pathways everyone feels ownership for and are more likely to take”

Third sector stakeholder

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