We all know that being a lone changemaker makes little sense. At the heart of being an activist is our relationships with others and this blog by Hilda Campbell, QNIS Fellow and Chief Executive of COPE Scotland, introduces a resource to help you weave your own networks. As Hilda says herself – it is together we can be the change.
The Q Community hosted a Network Weaving learning series facilitated by Consultant Kristin Johnstad, which COPE Scotland was delighted to attend. We learned much about the idea of Network Weaving through the work of June Holley. When the learning series was over, some of those who attended, including Clare Cable from QNIS and colleagues from Healthcare Improvement Scotland felt it would be great to share that learning with others. We organised an initial reflection session to consider how we may do this. The ideas generated from this led to a successful application being made to the Supporting Q Connections Funding. With approval from June Holley and support from Kristin Johnstad. This application was made in partnership with the Health and Social Care Alliance (The Alliance).
The funding secured enabled us to connect with colleagues working in health and social care across the UK and Ireland and beyond, to explore the challenges to networks and for those in a network leadership role. Listening and sharing learning through many conversations, peer assistance sessions, and active learning sessions we were able to adapt and develop the materials into a new suite of resources, building on the excellent work done by so many others.
These new resources include:
The Curiosity Poster
A simple tool to invite curiosity about learning more about network effectiveness, network leadership, and network weaving.
A tools and resources booklet offering ideas on places to find out more about the issues identified including:
- Curious to learn more about Network Weaving?
- Building relationships
- Evaluating your Network
- Finding the time
- Generating Ideas
- Hassles with Hierarchies
- Ideas to action
- Inclusivity and Diversity
- Network Mapping
- Peer Support asking for and receiving help as well as offering it.
A reflective workbook offering a CPD log for those leading networks, the contents of which include:
- Chapter 1: Ideas on how to use this workbook
- Chapter 2: Understanding my role as a Network Weaver
- Chapter 3: Relationship with myself and others
- Chapter 4: Understanding my networks
- Chapter 5: Motivating & energising my networks and me
You can download these materials here
For anyone interested in finding out more about The Q Community there is a special interest group that offers active learning sessions on the materials and other issues around networking. Guests are welcome and can find our more here: Nurturing and Weaving Networks SIG
If you are interested in workshops, want to explore using the materials, or if you would like any other information, please email: admin@cope-scotland.org. It matters to nurture our networks and ourselves because this will help us navigate to a place that is kinder, fairer, and healthier for all.
This is not the end of the story, just another chapter. The work continues and the story is still being written. Already we have identified an element missing from the suite, a standalone resource to help people prioritise where to start using the materials. This is already being co-produced and will be out soon, for more information please contact: hilda@cope-scotland.org
Nurses have always been catalysts for change, however, no matter how committed, determined, hardworking, skilled, or competent, we alone cannot bring about the changes we would like to see. This is why networks matter in nursing and why it’s important to reflect on the value of nurturing those networks and nurturing ourselves as network leaders. Recognising that things need to change is just the beginning. Finding others with the same vision and collective passion to make a difference is the next step. Together we can be the change.
“Were there none who were discontented with what they have, the world would never reach anything better.”
– Florence Nightingale
