Making relationships central in the PIEs 2.0 formula and Pizazz

Question : Why is 'making relationships central' not central in the PIEs 2.0 formulation and the Pizazz (as it was in PIEs One)?

Answer : Because it's everywhere

The most significant environment for human beings is other human beings. We are hard wired to be social creatures, and it is our relationships with others that make us who we are - and who we can become.

But if building relationships is at the the core of what being a PIE is all about, why then is 'making relationships central' not one of the main themes in the new PIEs 2.0 framework, as it was in the earlier versions?

The answer is precisely that: that building relationships is central. It's not a separate activity that you can add in. It runs through everything.  And so when we come to creating a self assessment framework for PIEs - the Pizazz - which is based on providing and discussing the actual evidence for what services are doing that makes them PIEs, finding evidence for building relationships is not a separate area.

It's simply too central for that. It's everywhere. The real evidence of making relationship central in services lies in what these services write about themselves in all the other areas.

 

A focus on relationships

(For those who nevertheless DO wish to highlight working relationsjips as the cental focus of their work, there is some useful advice HERE, and in Robin Johnosn's book on PIEs ('Psychologically Informed Environments from the ground up; Service design for complex needs' :  HERE) on how to 'customises' PIEs 2.0, and 'write in' a theme for relationships, particularly when using the Pizazz and the PIE Abacus.).

But before we go on to that, one last word: the relationships staff and users have are NOT the only important relationships a PIE should aim to foster. Family, peer group, neighbours - and for some a pet - are equally and in the long run probably more important.  Work to maintain and sometimes to rebuild these relationships is crucial in any kind of recovery.

For that matter, working relationships with other agencies operating in the same locality, or with the same issues more broadly, can also be crucial to the success of any service, Inter-agency partnersips are just as much a matter of building constructive relationships. This is why the PIEs 2.0 approach includes 'sector engagement' (HERE) and 'pathways, systems and system coherence' (HERE) as two of the main practice elements, to allow services and networks to include this crucial area in their assessments, and in their future action planning.

(For more thoughts on this, see the forum discussions on 'embedding the PIE apprach, HERE)

 

Managing - the Three Rs

That said, in PIEs 2.0 there is a much clearer focus on the day-to-day practicalities of managing a service to encourage relationships. In practice, that will mean paying attention to what we call 'the Three Rs of PIEs' - the rules, the roles, and the responsiveness of the service.

That can be done - it may often need to be done - in discussion with Head Office over the rules laid down by management. It may well mean discussions with local funders, or with other agencies, over your referral processes; or over theirs.

But some things you will find you really can change for yourselves; and especially in the area we have called 'responsiveness'; and all the feedback we are hearing suggests that the best way to enhance and encourage responsiveness 'at the coalface' is by encouraging reflective practice.

NB: We have done our best to retain this immediate responsiveness in the Pizazz - the self assessment framework for PIEs - and in the software version, the PIE Abacus (HERE).

In the coming weeks, as the next phase  of the pilots of the model start to get to work, we will be exploring to what extent the software can become a tool for comparable responsiveness as whole systems level ( For the underlying ambition, see the PIElink page on creating "A single framework':   HERE).

Useful reading/viewing

 

Specifics in relationship making

  • relationships and complex needs (quick links page) : HERE
  • sector engagement : HERE
  • pathways, systems and system coherence : HERE
  • top to toe embedding : HERE
  • customising PIEs 2.0 with the Pizazz and PIE Abacus : HERE

 

The full PIEs 2.0 model with all elements

Psychological awareness ; HERE

  • Empathy and emotional intelligence : HERE
  • Approaches and techniques : HERE
  • Psychological models : HERE

Training and support : HERE

Learning and enquiry : HERE

  • Reflective practice : HERE
  • A culture of Enquiry : HERE
  • Sector engagement : HERE
  • Evidence- generating practice : HERE

Spaces of opportunity : HERE

  • The built environment : HERE
  • Networks and surroundings : HERE
  • Pathways, systems and system coherence : HERE

The Three Rs : HERE

  • Rules and procedures : HERE
  • Roles and relationships : HERE
  • Responsiveness : HERE

 

 

Useful reading/viewing

A lived experience view (Aaron's outline of what a PIE is about). HERE

Not how I meet them (Karl's poem) HERE

Just talking? How relationships disrupt social disadvantage HERE

What does a good professional relationship look like for homeless young people? (Coming next)

Organisations that foster relationships ( by The R word) (Coming next)

Core skills of engagement HERE

Conducting research and evaluation with people with complex needs in a person-centred waHERE

Empathy, tenacity and compassion; an evaluation of relationship-based practice in Brighton & Hove  HERE

Is the PIE evolving? HERE

 

Other useful material and links

On conversations in end of life care (NIHR research)  : HERE