Multi Agency Team Development with Best Practice Network
The Multi Agency Team Development programme (MATD) is an inspiring and challenging experience designed to build highly effective relationships and behaviours amongst teams made up from the agencies and sectors who work with children, young people and families. The programme was commissioned by the National College for School Leadership (NCSL) to support the implementation of the Every Child Matters agenda.
The programme is dynamic and responsive, providing opportunities to develop a range of teamwork skills and attributes whilst focusing on the needs of multi agency teams in an environment of continual change and required collaboration. The programme was successfully run as a pilot programme between April 2004 and September 2006.
Best Practice Network (BPN) is the MATD training provider for the West Midlands and South-West Regions. We are excited to be involved in this programme which we believe has the potential to promote deep and profound learning, to transform practice in multi agency teams and thereby have an impact on the well being of every child. Vanessa Rowe, BPN's programme leader says 'I believe passionately that such a programme is not only much needed but it is also designed in such a way that it can really make a difference to children's lives and the people that work with and for them'
A different approach to change
Multi agency work can be challenging and invariably involves change. Best Practice Network feel that true and sustainable change is not just about more of the same and doing existing things better, but rather a transformation into a different form.
BPN use a kaleidoscope as a metaphor to represent the opportunity of promoting sustainable and systemic change.
As one individual component moves and changes, so the whole pattern is transformed into something quite different from before. Radical new configurations and new practices are created.
Best Practice has devised a programme that empowers teams to develop their own shape and practice according to their specific contexts. The pattern and practice will be rooted in and owned by the community which it serves, thereby maximising its potential for sustainability.
Aims and outcomes of the programme
- Team development aimed at improving team effectiveness and performance
- Individual personal development for participants
- Increased trust between staff in different agencies
- Increased effectiveness of multi agency teams within and beyond professional settings
- Acceleration on integrated service provision
- Enhanced team leadership
- Capacity building for multi-agency working throughout the organisation/school and beyond
- Making a difference to every child
Benefits for staff and services
- A higher level of satisfaction
- A sense of liberation as organisations work beyond traditional bureaucratic and cultural restraints
- Cross-fertilisation of ideas
- Increased flexibility for staff and enhanced career development opportunities
- Improvements in staff retention, recruitment and workload
- Opportunities for enhanced partnership working with other agencies and the wider community
- Reduced duplication
- Improved links and communication, resulting in enhanced understanding of partners' activities
Process
The Best Practice Network programme includes consultation with the sponsor to establish the aims and objectives of the programme and the team expectations. A pre-programme online assessment of the individual and team personal profiles allows the teams to see their members' strengths and identify areas where greater collaboration and communication can be achieved to bring greater success. This is followed by a residential face to face 24 hour event and 3 further one day sessions. Teams will be expected to complete work outside the sessions in their locality between events.
Cost £1500 per participant (Multi-agency teams of 8 -10 required).
For more information email: matd@bestpracticenet.co.uk
Best Practice Network continue to seek out and share best practice by developing a range of innovative programmes tailored to suit the specific needs of local authorities, school leaders and their teams. For example, Improving Team Performance has been co-developed with HOLT (a leading national provider of experiential learning for team and leadership development) and Changing Organisations draws on the the unique style of working below the surface of the Tavistock Consultancy Service (TCS).
In addition to MATD, we are able to offer a range of National College of School Leadership programmes (including WTfS and DCSI) and, as an accredited centre for the Institute of Leadership and Management, the ILM Coaching and Mentoring awards.
For more information email: melaniegreville@bestpracticenet.co.uk