Comparative evaluation of children’s services networks: Overcoming professional, organisational and sector boundaries in paediatric nephrology, child protection and Cleft lip & palate networks

Aims of project: 1. To assess the relative success of mandated and non-mandated networks within children’s services in engaging relevant clinical and non-clinical staff and users, and in crossing professional and organisational boundaries with particular reference ... Expand Text Aims of project: 1. To assess the relative success of mandated and non-mandated networks within children’s services in engaging relevant clinical and non-clinical staff and users, and in crossing professional and organisational boundaries with particular reference to collaborative working and knowledge sharing and practice integration 2. To consider the origins, processes and costs of mandated and non-mandated networks within children’s services and the implications for outcomes. Five research themes frame the study - institutional forces; different types of knowledge; political processes and cultures; user involvement; performance metrics and innovation. The research focuses on children and young people’s services based in Nottingham and delivered mainly within the Trent SHA. Cases were selected to show sufficient variation in network context for comparative case analysis and theoretical development. There will be 3 comparative cases of networks located within the Trent SHA region of the NHS: 1) non-mandated network led by a physician in a tertiary specialist centre (Regional paediatric nephrology network) 2) mandated cross-agency network (health, social services, police, education) led by community based practitioners (City wide child protection network) 3) mandated network driven by top-down policy requirements, nursing led with significant surgical input (Regional cleft lip and palate network) There are three work packages (social network mapping, comparative case studies, and health economics evaluation) and the outcomes will be: 1. Recommendations for policy-makers on organisational design, and professional and management practice in health service delivery. This will include recommendations for leadership and other boundary-spanning roles within networks, culture management, utilisation of ICT, user involvement, human resource policies and practices, governance of networks; 2. Dissemination of findings and recommendations through reports, professional and academic journals, and a high-profile conference.