Nanne Isokuortti on the implementation of a systemic practice model, adapted from Reclaiming Social Work, in Children’s Services in Finland.
Many countries are implementing systemic practice models in their Children’s Services. In Finland, for example, social workers are implementing a systemic practice model adapted from Reclaiming Social Work, which originated in the UK.
It is important for models to be implemented fully in order for them to work most effectively and research is underway in Finland to explore this. Implementation research evaluates the extent to which models are implemented in routine practice and the barriers and facilitators to this.
In this episode I speak to Nanne Isokuortti, a PhD candidate at the University of Helsinki, who is examining the implementation of the Systemic Practice Model in Finland. We discuss a paper she has written which evaluates the extent to which the model is being implemented, and barriers and facilitators involved in this process. Its findings should be of interest to practitioners, managers and policy makers alike, so it’s worthwhile listening to what she has to say. You can read her paper here:
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Such a useful overview of balancing research with implementation of practice. Helpful in touching on the the ideals and models we, shall I say carry, vs. operationalizing in our care systems. Great questions and answers all round exploring the pillars of practice based research.
I did have a personal flashback of sorts, (my own dreams of years ago of depicting a unique approach of my own mental health team advancing the recovery model (step down from ACTT). It was about manualization of interventions and therein the need to to establish fidelity measures.
As Nanne Isokuortti said on the limits of the study and Martin Webber framed as what would you do differently? How at the beginning of a study do you establish an actual manual that bridges the model theory with actual practice, when you are attempting to depict the practice before evaluating it?
Hi Bill,
Many thanks for your comment.
I think it is very much an iterative process between observing and articulating practice (in a manual), evaluating it and then implementing it elsewhere. There needs to be several iterations of these processes to fully understand what is going on and what can be improved. We need to move away from the idea of taking something off a shelf and putting it into practice somewhere else without changing it – that often doesn’t work and could be harmful. Nanne talks about the changes that were made to implement it in Finland and the barriers to doing so (which are all too common).
However, it would be good to hear some examples of where implementation of models from different contexts has gone really well.
Thanks again!
Martin