An embedded evaluator approach with Change Nottingham’s Community of Practice
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In 2021, against the backdrop of the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, ROC Research Consultancy was commissioned by Small Steps Big Changes to evaluate the journey of a virtual Community of Practice (CoP). The aim was to improve the system for people experiencing severe multiple disadvantage, deprivation, and health inequalities from birth to later in life in Nottingham. Change Nottingham pooled resources and enthusiasm, and an drew together a diverse range of partners for a series of virtual workshops to explore how to build a coordinated systemic approach to collaboration around this issue. Dr Rebecca O’Connor explored the implementation of the CoP from its inaugural meeting in February 2021 through to the fourth CoP in July 2021.
By embedding herself within the CoP planning group, Rebecca codesigned the evaluation approach with partners. With a purely qualitative approach, CoP planners and participants were interviewed throughout the evaluation period to collate multiple perspectives and understand the value of the CoP. Findings were fed back rapidly to the planning group to help inform decision making as the CoP progressed and evolved. Learning that emerged helped to clarify the purpose of the CoP and understand how to engage and maintain engagement. It highlighted the importance of building relationships and nurturing networks when encouraging collaborative working between different types of partners.
Evaluation played an important role in understanding the complexity of a CoP and allowed the voice of the participants to be added to the planning conversation. While this sometimes challenges the agenda of those involved in planning and facilitating a collaborative work stream, it has the potential to enhance engagement and collective ownership of collective systems thinking. If you are interested in learning more about an embedded evaluator approach, please contact Dr Rebecca O’Connor who will be very happy to discuss it with you further.