October 13 - October 15
SW AHSN Offices, Vantage Point, Pynes Hill
Exeter, EX2 5FD+ Google MapOrganiser: SW AHSN
COVID-19 has forced the rapid adoption of technology and in many cases, driven efficiencies, opened up new ways of organising and connecting communities and improved patient experiences.
It’s time to capture those brilliant innovations and help you spread and scale your idea so that more people can benefit.
This autumn, our ‘Tech for Change’ Spread Academy is specifically designed to support teams who’ve developed technical innovations to solve problems in community, health and care settings.
The 3-day immersive training will equip you and your team with the skills and strategies needed to spread your new ideas and innovations.
Is Spread Academy for us?
Your team might be health and care workers, strategic planners, industry innovators, infrastructure planners or community leaders. But what you’ll have in common is that you’re passionate about using technology to improve people’s lives.
It could be that your team’s using existing tech in a new way to improve the quality of health care. Or perhaps you’ve designed a new health care app or system to connect to your patients in a new way, or made information more accessible to your community.
If you feel like it’s time to share your innovation with the world – or at least a wider community – then our ‘Tech for Change’ Spread Academy is designed for you.
How will we know if our tech innovation is ready to spread?
If your innovation or approach has already been prototyped and proven to work, now would be the time to consider applying for the ‘Tech for Change’ Spread Academy.
We would like to invite applications from the following teams:
Teams who are seeking to scale up and spread community and patient-centred technological interventions
Teams looking to systematically spread digital solutions that enables and support local health and care integration
Teams wanting to evolve and promote technology that can improve health equity for those most vulnerable or in need in our communities
Teams who are seeking rapid development of technology originated or accelerated by the pandemic to support sustained population health and recovery of the health and care system
In short, if you’re successfully using technology to improve patient experience or connect and inform people, then please get in touch by filling out the ‘expression of interest’ form below.
What will we learn at Spread Academy?
You’ll learn a practical framework for designing and leading large-scale change that the Billions Institute call the ‘Model for Unleashing’. Through a series of experiential exercises, encouraging you to dig deep into your motivations, you and your team will be supported to apply the model, facilitating both strategic planning and personal development by:
Setting clear and compelling aims to match your ambitions for change
Planning for spread by developing 90-day work plans
Expanding your methods and tools to enable change
Using data in a way which can propel spread
Understanding and managing the barriers to spread
Working positively in teams and openly with other people
Sessions will combine live training with group work, presentations and coaching. Prior to the 3 day immersive Spread Academy, there will be 2 half day virtual ‘on-boarding’ workshops which will take place on Zoom. It’s important that you are available to attend all of the pre-sessions and the 3 day training.
You can find out more about the ‘Model for Unleashing’ in this short film:
Where does Spread Academy happen?
Spread Academy will be held in person at the SW AHSN offices in Exeter between 13-15 October 2021. Don’t worry, we have a digital contingency to manage future COVID-19 waves and teams who are unable to run it face to face!
Okay, we’re keen – what does it cost and how do we apply?
Places cost £1725 per person and we recommend teams of between 2 and 6 people. If you’re keen to find out more, please fill in a quick ‘expression of interest’ form by July 16 and we’ll be in touch with details on how to apply.
Could our team be eligible for a bursary place?
If your team is already associate with one of the SW AHSN’s nationally mandated programmes, you and your team may be eligible to a bursary place on the ‘Tech for Change’ Spread Academy. If you think this may apply to you, please contact Steve.Johnson-Wood@swahsn.com to find out more on how to apply.
If we apply, are we guaranteed a place?
Applicants are asked to participate in a selection process where you’ll be invited to an online ‘Are you ready for Spread?’ session in September 2021. Teams will be supported to assess whether their project is ready to spread. If you have any questions or for further information please contact spreadacademy@swahsn.com.
Can I find out more about Spread Academy?
Spreading and scaling ideas across the health and care system is a challenge. Spread Academy is an immersive training programme designed to equip you with the skills and confidence you need to make large-scale change.
Launched in 2019, the Academy was developed in collaboration with the renowned US-based social change agency, Billions Institute. Together we have supported over 420 professionals to refine their aims, reach new audiences, and build an operation to spread their ideas across large systems.