Matthew Mezey's activity
In group: Network Weaving
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Matthew Mezey posted an update in the group Network Weaving 3 years, 5 months ago
** Please introduce yourself; where would you most like to see ‘Network Weaving’ work make a positive difference?
It would be great if you could post a brief message to introduce yourself here. Where are you based and what attracted you to Network Weaving? Do you have a particular network that you’d like to give a boost to?
My intro:
I’m Matthew Mezey, Q’s Community Manager – usually in the Health Foundation’s new offices in Blackfriars, though now working at home in west London.
I’ve known of June Holley’s Network Weaving tools, and handbook, for some years – and hope this learning series will help me to really get to know this approach, and how to apply it.
Of course, I plan to use what I learn with the Q Community itself, and all its groups/SIGs/communities of practice etc.
There look to be such valuable (and practical) learnings about such things as which network roles are needed for networks to thrive, how to uncover who’s missing from your network, how to catalyse self-organised projects, network-based funding etc etc.
Really looking forward to the start this afternoon!
Hi, I’m Cecily Hollingworth, I’m a Project Manager with Sussex Local Maternity System, usually based in Worthing, but currently working from home in a village outside Chichester – my family have been very grateful for our coastal location this year!
I am relatively new to ‘Network Weaving’ but have essentially been doing this kind of work since I joined the NHS in 2008 – this course looks invaluable for helping me shed some light on the theory behind the work I do and helping me be more intentional as I move into my new role with the Sussex Mental Health Collaborative in the New Year. I can definitely see how the LMS has evolved from Stage 1 to 2 over the last couple of years so keen to see if we can start facilitating that process in Mental Health. Looking forward to finding out more later!
Hi Cecily – great to see you here. Interestingly the NW weaving framework and tools fit really well with Liberating Structures too, which I know you have an interest in.
Indeed two Liberating Structures come directly out of Network Weaving!
June Holley got in touch with me to say that she will have some time soon to try to turn more of the great NW tools into the easy to share and spread Liberating Structures format.
This would be great for Q members, I think. But would help NW itself to spread more easily.
Funny what you say about how you’ve essentially being doing this since 2008, June Holley’s Network Weaving helps to do many of these things in a more deliberate way.
It’s also illuminating to realise that there are different key network roles – and pitfalls when one or two are missing.
It was very interesting doing the Network Roles survey for the Q team itself – some real differences in our main network skills.
Hi @cecilyhollingworth it was lovely to meet you in the breakout room last night, and not enough time to ask the Qs. I am interested in what you find useful from the network weaver learning given you have loads of network experience already, so do share when you can
Hi @elizabethbeech, it was lovely to meet you too. Agree, it would have been good to have more time to chat, but hopeful of more opportunities. It’s a good question re: what I’m gleaning from the network weaver learning. I have been trying to distinguish the difference between the theory behind network weavers and the training I’ve received in supporting transformation programmes; they feel really similar, just with a slight tweak of language. I have been largely applying the thinking to the maternity work I have been involved with. I think what I am finding most useful is being able to put words to what is happening, how the LMS is evolving, how those trust-relationships are developing and thinking through what we can actively/ intentionally do to further strengthen the networks that have been established before the bulk of the transformation funding ends this March. I would really like to mull over the slides from yesterday’s workshop to explore this further… how about you?
Hi, I’m Duncan Courtney. I’m currently a project manager working for the NIHR Clinical Research Network in Yorkshire & Humber.
I’m currently engaged in a piece of work looking at ensuring that people from BAME communities are enabled to participate in Clinical Research (at this time with a focus on COVID -19, given the disproportionate effects of the virus on members of BAME communities, and the tendency for individuals from these communities to be generally under-represented in clinical research anyway).
What I’m realising is that traditional or more recent approaches to managing the project really don’t work too well and that a networking approach might be better. I’d not come across the Network Weaving approach before, but based on an initial look at the resources presented I can see how it might support my natural approach to work (which isn’t always viewed with enthusiasm).
So I’m looking forward to the sessions – see you later!
HI Duncan,
Welcome to the group – June Holley herself have been particularly focused on involving BAME communities in Network Weaving over the last year or two. It’s worth looking at her newsletter and blogs – there could be some very relevant content.
As I mentioned to Colin, NW tools like the ‘Who is missing?’ exercise could be particularly relevant.
What were the particular bits of your project you noticed needed strengthening, and Network Weaving might be able to help?
Hi @duncancourtney thats such an important area of focus – maybe you can do women, and older folk next! Has the recent COVID-19 emerging evidence of BAME risk profile helped with your work? Clearly demonstrated why ethnicity matters in evidence generation
Hi everyone
I’m Claire Marshall, Experience of Care lead at NHSE/I working on improving experiences of care for people who use our services and their families and carers. My work focuses on embedding experience of care within priority clinical programmes and I work a large proportion of my time with the NHS Cancer Programme. I’m leading on some cancer improvement collaborative work and also support the wider Heads of Patient Experience Network in England. A very basic question but how do you alter your email notifications for this group? It’s coming in every time there is a post! I also did submit a NW survey but haven’t had my results back? Thanks for any help
Hi Claire, certainly sounds like lots of spaces where network weaving skills and tools may well help.
You can change your e-mail notification settings here: https://q.health.org.uk/community/groups/network-weaving/notifications/ – most groups tend to be relatively low traffic, so notifications aren’t too intrusive. I can imagine that if more people join this group over the next day or two there could be a number of posts.
I’ll ask about the you NW survey results.
Hi, I’m Heather Shearer. I was fairly involved with setting up Q in the early days, and certainly Q in Scotland. I now combine working some of the week at University of St Andrews bringing “Agents of Change” curriculum into undergraduate medical training, with working independently as a coaching and QI trainer. I’m drawn to the language of network weaving and learning more. Networks I’m interested in at the moment are the Q Book Club, developing networks around QI/Agents of Change in undergraduate professional development, and networks for GPs who have undergone QI training that I deliver and possibly some others too….
Hi @heathershearer Had you joined the Q Primary care SIG? your GP focus may be valuable to the SIG
Hi Heather – great that you can join us.
Is ‘Agents of Change’ at all inspired by Helen Bevan and team’s School for Change Agents course, or is it very different?
Great to hear you have lots of networks where you want to use what we’re learning (though so far it was more the theoretical overview than the practical tools really). But they’ve certainly set the scene….
Hi Matthew. The phrasing of Agents of Change in our higher education setting is not mine, and I think it unlikely those who crafted it were influenced by Helen’s work. However, there are certainly elements of the intention to support our students to develop their effectiveness and agency in delivering change (as opposed to hinting and hoping for example). Aiming that each of our graduates are inspired, competent and confident to influence change in their next/first medical jobs. I’m keen to explore with anyone interested in Q about how we might support these extremely early career doctors to retain that sense of agency – think perhaps a network may help! may be connected to Q?
@cecilyhollingworth Agree def need some reflective thinking when the slides are shared, and yet to read the book. It will be very helpful to be able to shout out questions to this weaver network too as plan new network set ups
Hi everyone so excited to be part of this programme and work.
I am Rachel Volland a programme/change manager with QI experience developed, and used to varying degrees, through running a number of large scale pieces of work most notably around stroke, dementia and safety. Now, amongst other pieces, I am leading work around developing and supporting Anchor organisations in the NW of England and keen to think about utilising networks in the best way.
So many talented and knowledgeable people within this cohort I hope I can ‘meet’ and make links with as many of you as possible.
Rachel
@heathershearer Well, there’s always space for another group – though no point unless they need it, and would use it.
Don’t suppose you can think of a research question that would probe how much self-efficacy/internal locus of control people feel like they have? In order to be able to compare groups, or look to see if shifts in agency over time are taking place.
Btw, my fave book about growing your agency, in your 20s and 30s is Marcia Baxter Magolda’s ‘Authoring Your Life – Developing an Internal Voice to Navigate Life’s Challenges’. This is more aimed at the people themselves. Elsewhere Prof Magolda explains how growth of self-authorship is the foundation for HE, and the key role of ‘Learning Partnerships’ in development. She’s a renowned Educator.
Thanks Mathew for inviting brief intro and for those of you who shared a wee bit.
I AM BASED in Minneapolis, MN (the unceded lands of the Dakota/Lakota peoples – https://native-land.ca/) about 2 miles west of the might Mississippi River in an urban neighborhood anchors by a large public park.
I AM ATTRACTED to Network Weaving? I am attracted to understanding networks and network patterns after multiple decades leading and learning in complex change initiatives. I appreciate the coherence of my values and skills with weaving and my aspiration to seed and nourish practices that are generative and accessible.
Do you have a particular network that you’d like to give a boost to? I AM PARTICULARLY weaving across networks that have deeply held narratives (e.g. urban/rural, racial identify groups, age/generations) in my own community and country. I am always humbled with work with and along side others in their communities.