Facilitating the co-design of a quality tool
Summary
the challenge
The solution
what we did
our process was
the impact
NHS England commissioned Shared Purpose to lead the co-design of a maturity matrix that would provide a shared framework for NHS and VCSE leaders to assess progress and strengthen collaboration. The tool has opened constructive conversations, helped alliances set clearer priorities, and raised the profile of the VCSE sector as a strategic partner in health and care.
VCSE alliances were created as part of the introduction of integrated care system (ICS) in 2021. As alliances emerged and developed, early experiences were mixed. While some alliances showed success in terms of influence and opportunities for the VCSE, many struggled to prove their value or gain investment. Leaders needed a recognised tool to demonstrate progress and make the case for stronger partnerships and investment.
To create a tool that would enable VCSE and NHS leaders to, in a systematic way, gain understanding of the value and impact of VCSE alliances and how well alliances were embedding into ICS governance and decision-making.
The Shared Purpose team facilitated the entire co-design process, working with NHS England and leaders from both sectors. Building on existing NHS guidance, we developed a maturity matrix with distinct quality domains, levels of achievement, and success indicators.
Step 1: Clarify purpose and high-level structure: We consulted with key VCSE and NHS leaders as to how an existing NHS checklist could be built upon and what they hopped such a tool would achieve. From this we structured the tool into quality domains.
Step 2: Codesign first draft: We held a series of workshops on each quality domain to explore ‘what good looks like’. From these we wrote a draft of the tool, which NHS England then amended to align with other similar tools.
Step 3 – Pilot testing: SP engaged a cohort of ICSs to pilot the tool. We designed a process that enabled users to assess their progress, gather and agree evidence, and provide feedback on both the tool and the process. We then collated and structured this feedback for NHS England, who produced a further iteration of the tool.” We also used this process to gather a wide range of model documents that systems had designed that could be of use to other systems, such as role descriptions, business cases and representation protocols.
Step 4 – Beta-testing: Around one third of ICSs worked through the tool, with development support from our team. This enabled us to provide a final round of feedback to NHS England, with the tool to be published as an NHS England quality product in 2025.
To create a tool that would enable VCSE and NHS leaders to, in a systematic way, gain understanding of the value and impact of VCSE alliances and how well alliances were embedding into ICS governance and decision-making.