In search of effective collaborative challenge for a more equitable society

James Henderson, Research Associate with What Works Scotland, considers the final reflective learning report from the Aberdeenshire case site and the challenges of 'putting Christie into action'.

Extending the community sector inquiry through a cross-sector learning community?

James Henderson, Research Associate with What Works Scotland (up to December 2018) and now working on the Smart Urban Intermediaries project, reflects on the potential for further shared inquiry work on the community sector role in public service reform and social change. 

He links his thoughts with three blogs generated by the community sector inquiry – from Ian Cooke of the Development Trust Association Scotland, Pauline Hinchion from Scottish Communities Finance, and Aidan Pia, Director of Senscot.

Exploring community anchors, public service reform... and the wider local community sector

What Works Scotland has recently published a research report and policy and practice briefing about community anchor organisations and public service reform. But what happen next? 

In this blog post research associate James Henderson introduces some of the key learning from the research and highlights the ongoing discussion of the developing role of the community sector across society in Scotland. 

Mapping the frontiers of collaborative governance

James Henderson and Nick Bland from What Works Scotland worked with Aberdeenshire Community Planning Partnership and partners from spring 2015 until early 2017 to develop action research projects and activities, with 2017 providing opportunities for further reflective work within the CPP. 

Here, James discusses the latest (but not the final) report generated by this work together, and which explores emerging multi-layered preventative partnership working, as per the Christie Commission agenda.

Health and Social Care Integration: seeking the ‘space’ and commitment to support complex local partnership-working

What Works Scotland Research Associate, James Henderson reflects on developments in Health and Social Care Integration.

The Health and Social Care Benchmarking Network's (HSCBN) national conference on 3 December (2015) provided a timely opportunity to learn more about developments in health and social care integration. Timely, in part, because of the publication on that same day of Audit Scotland’s progress report on health and social care integration and its challenges across Scotland’s 31 prospective Integrated Joint Boards. And, in part, for me as a researcher working within What Works Scotland in looking to understand those same challenges from the perspective of the people ‘doing the work’.

People making a difference in communities … a participatory cross-sector conference

What Works Scotland Research Associate James Henderson presents highlights from this stimulating conference, focused on people who make a difference in communities.

Community Anchors and Opportunities for Locally-led Public Service Reform

Reflecting on his recently published Think Piece on this subject, James Henderson, Research Associate with What Works Scotland, considers the potential for community anchors and the community sector to be central to local democratic and inequalities-focused approaches to public service reform in Scotland.