Human Learning Systems

Scotland has been increasingly developing policy and legislation that put choice and control in the hands of its citizens. From Self-Directed Support, Realistic Medicine, Community Empowerment and Human Rights – there is a strong drive to change how people are empowered to take control and set agendas.

Human Learning Systems (HLS) offers an answer to how we plan and deliver traditional service differently, by:

  • putting people at the centre 
  • weaving learning through every layer of relationships
  • using learning to change the system to better enable supporting individuals, and
  • measuring what matters. 

 

Recent Events

Human Learning Systems: Workshop - 4 November 2022

This event was specifically designed to introduce Chief Officers, Heads of Service and Strategic Planning Leads from Health and Social Care Partnerships, to Human Learning Systems. It provided a general overview and understanding on what is required from leaders in adopting an HLS approach.

Human Learning Systems: Workshop for Chief Officers, Heads of Service and Strategic Planning Leads

 

HLS and Crisis Response

Under Pressure: How Human Learning Systems can help Leaders Navigate Complex Crises Part 1

Under Pressure: How Human Learning Systems can help Leaders Navigate Complex Crises Part 2

 

Case Studies

Gateshead Council - Learning as a management strategy: author Mark Smith- Director of Public Health Service Reform

North Devon- Pathology in NHS: author Andy Brogan, Easier Inc

You can browse the range of case studies on the HLS website

 

Launching the Guide 

In partnership with the Centre for Public Impact and Iriss, we have written a practical guide for those who want to plan and deliver in this way. This comprehensive guide provides many tools and examples of practice, which show how the theory of putting learning at the heart of our drive for improvement, can be turned into practical and actionable steps. We not only created this guide in partnership over the past year, we have run a number of events to share the learning of the journey:

Professor Toby Lowe talking about HLS - A practical guide for the curious at the launch event in June 2022

 

Using an HLS Approach in Grant-making

HLS approach to developing and implementing a grant programme in Scottish Borders 5 May 22

 

Putting People First Sessions

Session 2 - Speakers:

Gary Wallace, Public Health Specialist, Plymouth City Council Talking about

Two types of experiments:

  • ‘hypothesis testing’ experiments (extended appreciative inquiry) and
  • ‘system probe’ experiments Assertive alcohol outreach experiments

Mark Smith, Director of Public Reform, Gateshead Council Talking about

  • Doing experiments and Debriefing about them: Experiment design and premise, Rules and principles, Moving from ‘Assess-Do-Refer’, L.A.N, Person shaped measures and 
  • Learning and sense making: Learning governance, Efficiency – designing for frequency, Problem solving, Cost - history and trajectory, The power of stories, Legacy – big ticket items revealed and changed thinking

Putting people first- Part 2, 9 December 21

 

Session 1- Speakers:

Mark Smith, Director of Public Reform, Gateshead Council ‘When is council tax arrears a prompt for a good conversation and problem solving and not a signal for debt collection?'

Heidi Tweedie, Social Movement & Enterprise Lead, Moray Wellbeing Hub CIC ‘What happens when people are mobilised through a social movement to promote wellbeing in their community?‘

Gary Wallace, Public Health Specialist, Plymouth City Council ‘How do you commission for learning and promote collaboration?'

Putting people first - Part 1, 17 November 21