Day 7: Making Meaningful Connections

 

To improve we must know where we are now and where we want to be.  To determine both, meaningfully connecting with the people we support and the people providing that support is critical.  After all, who else knows better what good (and bad) looks like!?

 

We are committed to learning from their experience and co-producing improvement with people.  This includes listening, understanding, connecting, and partnering with service users and those with the most knowledge of the experience of our service users. In fact, 59% of my Turning Point colleagues have lived experience of the issues facing the people we support.

Day 6: Those who have least, are most grateful for the simple things.

There’s not much these groups have in common: wealthy celebrities, paid thousands to be hungry for three weeks; and children from a Kenyan orphanage.  Both groups took great delight in simple things when they had nothing.  In 2017 I was privileged to take aid to these kids.  They showed the same delight in simple things that celebrities have shown over the past three weeks for marshmallows and popcorn.

When you’re deprived of almost everything, you appreciate what you get.  We support the most vulnerable through Turning Point and recognise they deserve to be given more and to achieve their potential.

 

Day 5: The End of Week 1

In the blink of an eye, my first week at Turning Point is coming to an end!  It has gone by in a flash; and I can’t say enough how welcome I’ve been made to feel by everyone I’ve met, spoken to and had any form of communication with.

I can really see the passion in the eyes of those I work with for the organisation we’re all part of and the people we support.  There is a genuine belief from all that we can continually do better with the services we provide, from front-line staff to fellow Board members.

Day 4: Clear Communication

I am learning that Turning Point is a unique organisation, but not alone in using jargon, acronyms and abbreviations in documents and meetings.  I wrote eight years ago about the ‘Upgoer Five’; and made a commitment to be more clear in my communications, reducing the use of jargon.

 

I made a pledge to call out poor use of language, abbreviation or anything that wouldn’t be clear to the intended audience.  I think I’ve been pretty good at doing this since then, and my Board colleagues at TP are as determined as I am to reduce the use of jargon too.

Day 3: Change for Improvement

Today was my first day working from home in the new role; through the various induction conversations I had ran a single theme: change for improvement.  Turning Point aspires to be a learning organisation, open to change for the benefit of the people we serve.  Change comes more easily to some than to others.  We need to create the right conditions for change to be effective, which means engaging with people as early as possible in the process.  Take the positive meaningful things that work well and build on them to develop new ways of working that progress our goals.

Day 2: From Harm To Hope

Yesterday the Government published a 10-year drugs plan to cut crime and save lives.  Turning Point has a significant number of Substance Misuse Services. Our drug and alcohol services include residential detox and rehab and community based treatment services. Last year we supported over 130,000 people across England

 

Whilst a lot of the media coverage focussed on the crime elements of the strategy; the plans for prevention strategies and investment in treatment sector is welcomed.  This will make a huge difference to many if done right.

 

Turning Pont’s Chief Executive’s Statement in response to the publication of the Government’s plans.

Day 1: Inspired By Possibility

Great experience starting with Turning Point today: IT equipment delivered at home, set-up before I started with email address and accounts activated from day 1.

 

AM: time with Julie Bass, Chief Executive and Philip Newton, Corporate Director; getting to know them and the organisation.

 

PM: Operating Board Reflection Session talking through the concept of becoming a Learning Organisation; and Psychological Safety of our staff, i.e. how we support people to be open, talk about areas for improvement, whilst retaining accountability and delivering for people and communities.

 

Brilliant to meet people face-to-face and have values-based conversations about our future.

 

Manchester tomorrow…