I keep hearing “system change” everywhere, what is it really, and how are we going to ‘DO’ it?
I have attended several brilliant events or collaborated with different community partners recently where the term 'system change' is regularly used, including by me!
A universal definition is seemingly, erm, undefined.
From Changing Futures, TEWV adult transformation, Re-imaging Redcar and Cleveland, You've Got This, Woodsmith Foundation insight work and hearing about several I havent fully engaged with yet like Localmotion in Middlesbrough, it feels like system change is what everyone is advocating for.
Clearly for something to work and be accessible to all of it, the simpler, the better. There do exist different ideas of what it means; however, there are similar characteristics between definitions and we all need to be aware of how to do it for our populations wellbeing to improve.
The think tank 'NPC' in their 'systems change guide', click here to download point at the range of definitions leaving it "hard to provide a single definition" and so list some characteristics, such as they:
“ - contain multiple components such as people, resources, services, relationships, values and perceptions
- exist in an environment, have boundaries, behaviours and connected parts, causes and effects
- are often complex and contain difficult to deal with issues (intractable)”
System change, they say, has 'defined perspectives' too, from practitioners, advocates and researchers to service reformers, learners and 'living systems', all of whom are entirely valid and important to understand too (see guide linked above for more)
From my personal perspective, in facilitating the wellbeing network itself (a resource to connect and organise people, services, resources and so on), we have attracted membership from private, public, voluntary and charitable members in this increasingly engaging network; and we can help connect the different perspectives, people, resources and services together and support wrapping that around increasingly broad sets of needs in our communities.
“It’s clear to me that the discussions and actions from the events and movements I have described at the start of this blog are planning and with all our support, can start to ‘Do’ systems change with you, our communities, together. Perhaps the network can be the connector of these cross areas system change movements themselves, to explore the opportunities together? Why not? I await the call…”
Our own events, training, briefings and more all have a role to play to connect these dots with our value of ‘ACT’ being the part that encourages our members to lead and take action. In fact, the wellbeing network is in itself an attempt to pull together the whole wellbeing workforce, paid or volunteering to connect these opportunities for change, based on those who have the experiences to share, to influence change for good.
So, our call to members is connect the dots, be a leader in your area and get involved to do the doing. Inspire others and get failing on that road to success, whatever that looks like. The events are organised and ongoing and communicated through our own calls to action, newsletters or our colleagues at MVDA, RCVDA, the local Minds or the multitude of partnerships and service communications that exist locally.
My take for individual wellbeing and system change looks like a universal pathway that follows the person; wherever they are, on a person centred pathway. My colleague Sharon Chappell started to imagine what that might look like, and we will share this soon, for discussion and perhaps to try and find a common thread for the person centred element of wellbeing system change. It’s definitely complex and may involve zero service input if a person is capable and motivated at an early point, with the right access and information in hand. Many are very capable of course.
But i propose there is more to this than meets the eye, and that’s the role of self-care for our workforce in the maze of system change.
Wellbeing is subjective; the measure of it is based on peoples self-reported sense of how well they are doing in life, and each person’s needs and abilities at any given time can vary. Many people, of course, who work or volunteer in wellbeing themselves, need and access support, whether its food banks, financial assistance, mental health support or trying to navigate the social housing system, and so on.
My belief is that we work very hard to support our communities, but what about us, our wellbeing, and self-care? How good are we at that? How much belief do we really have in the systems and potential of system change if our own behaviour choices don’t always match those of the advice and support options we dish out? No one is perfect and I’m far from it too; but I know what works for me, and a lot of the time, I do it. Sleep well, exercise, connect with friends, volunteer; even cold water and heat therapy and meditation is a mainstay in my life these days to allow me to keep on top of, well, me!
I truly believe that self-care first, self-compassion for ourselves allows us to see ourselves not as passive in this system, but as leaders, and examples for what we ask of others, and the shape it takes, for whatever self-care is, that works for you. Our wellbeing journeys in our work include us in that equation.
Maybe start with our ‘Wellbeing in Practice’ opportunities of Journaling, monthly wellbeing tasters, books for wellbeing or Creative huddles for wellbeing, all being rolled out this year. You just have to say yes, turn up and see if it works for you. All free, and nothing to lose by trying, and everything to gain.
For me, the common thread amongst all of this is the voice of the people who work, volunteer and the people themselves who receive the system support. We have a lived experience event coming up in June, and at this, stories will be shared from those who have lived it, and are now part of the system, making changes and being leaders. You try telling someone who has lived through difficulties and has those values to improve the system no, when they are motivated and determined by their own self purpose. This is where the hearts and minds of those who deliver the frontline work, like you, our members come in. We can talk all we like about what we want it to look like, but our front line VCS, CIC's, NHS, social care, housing, statutory services and more have to be aware and bought in to the processes to play their part in distributed leadership. I believe we must all find our purpose in the systems we work in to even believe it can happen and then we have a chance.
Oh yeah, and make mistakes, fail, lots of times and be open, and learn from them. Laugh about the attempts and celebrate the successes alike, for it’s in all of that openness that we all learn.
Systems didn’t come about by themselves, they started as thoughts and ideas from experience, shared and acted upon; so what are you thinking about that needs changing and what are you going to do about it?
Richie Andrew, April 2023
Public Health South Tees