Step into Leadership

Action learning

You told us that to develop your leadership capability you need space and time with others to reflect on your learning, and develop solutions to difficult problems. Working together in this way needs to have a clear focus. One way of achieving this is through action learning.

Action learning:

• brings together small groups of people to develop solutions to real issues from the workplace
• is about learning from your own experience and that of others
• can encourage creative approaches to problem solving
• can be an effective technique for collaborative leadership.

Action learning project

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), in partnership with NHS Education for Scotland (NES), commissioned a three-year project from 2011 - 2014 to assist leadership, communication and collaboration in the context of health and social care integration. The project applied action learning in 31 health and social care partnerships (HSCPs). The project’s findings confirm the importance of the “softer” elements of leadership and managing change.

A summary of the project and its findings is set out in an article published in the International Foundation for Action Learning June 2014 newsletter.

Some further resources supporting action learning in public services

• Appreciative Inquiry Resource Pack This pack, published by the SSSC and NHS Education Scotland, is for anyone who wishes to use an Appreciative Inquiry approach to support service improvement or redesign.
• Critically Reflective Action Learning Skills for Care
• Action Learning and Coaching This article explores how action learning and coaching can be used to develop critical thinking and confidence in social workers.
• Building collaboration and compassion for integrated working A booklet of stories from collaboration with teams and organisations across health and social care. The people who contributed to the booklet worked through several projects including Action Learning Sets and co-design of learning and development resources to support workforce development.

For further information email: [email protected]