ECHO Structure and Participation Guidelines

"ECHO strives to deliver quality, easily accessible learning in an ‘all teach, all learn’ environment."

What does participation look like? 

Sessions are facilitated by a professional lead who meets the criteria :

  • current in practice within the field of the chosen theme.
  • possess reach in terms of inclusion of appropriate specialist presenters and audience.
  • in a position to govern the quality and relevance of learning.

During each session, a specialist presenter will offer a short presentation on the topic for that session. The facilitator will support the presenter and the group to discuss, examine and reflect on the information shared.

Case based presentations are an essential part of ECHO and invites for these are made throughout the duration of the programme. Following the subject expert presentation the person/ persons who submit cases are invited to talk through their scenario and questions posed within the group to acquire new answers or new insights to complex situations.

Reducing Disparities

ECHO strives to deliver quality, easily accessible learning in an ‘all teach, all learn’ environment. The ECHO methodology is recognised as being a valuable contribution in the changing landscape we all face, particularly following COVID.

The ECHO model is designed to integrate within local and national structures in a way that is governable and relevant to current policy and good practice. In particular our delivery follows the principles of Realistic Medicine, quality improvement and trauma informed, person centred delivery.   

Partners

We are constantly looking to define key areas to assist in optimising specialist knowledge to ultimately improve outcomes for patients. These collaborations include partners in NHS, Scottish Government and the wider voluntary health and social care sector. 

We aim to move knowledge rather than people to help practitioners identify new strategies and approaches to deliver excellent care. 

Case Based Learning

Mastering Complexity...

Case presentations are an opportunity to apply specialist knowledge and learning to complex scenarios while also bringing the information shared to life.

This is why ECHO compliments Realistic Medicine so well. This is also the part of ECHO that distinguishes it from webinars and other forms of online teaching while using an 'all teach, all learn' approach based in quality improvement and sustainability.

Anonymisation

Case presentations must be anonymised with attention paid to removal of subtle or indirect personal identifiers.

Review

Cases need to reach the ECHO team in as much advance of sessions as possible to allow the team to make a secondary check of this.

Sometimes people have limited time so the above is the most necessary requirement however, if the case can be submitted earlier then this also gives the facilitator and guest speaker time to consider some answers in preparation for the discussion. 

Privacy

Cases are not shared to the group out with the on-line session but attendees at that session can have access to a recording if the facilitator agrees.

Information provided in cases does not have to be extensive and content is intuitively guided by the space on the form fields, for example if there is only space in the box for 5 sentences then 5 is all that is required. There will be a chance to elaborate during the session and the form serves as a visual anchor for the other participants.

Commitment 

The ECHO project is sympathetic to the barriers to perfect attendance, but we would ask that if possible registered participants try to attend the whole programme for the following reasons:

  • ECHO is a 'community of practice' designed to look at complex and sometimes challenging or emotive experiences and a consistent group makes this more possible. 
  • Digital safety and integrity is increasingly important and for this reason we cannot guarantee that a recording will be available and in some cases the ECHO team and facilitator will need to make a discretionary decision based on over all attendance, the privacy choices of other participants in the group and content sensitivity . 
  • ECHO is a relational project in that the learning comes from active participation. A safe environment is essential and we encourage openness as well as mindfulness of civility and a trauma informed awareness to issues such as lived experience in all forms of professional practice.

We can ensure a safe space for all by...

Avoiding criticism and accusations.

Acknowledging the experiences of others.

Focusing on learning without political prejudice.

Allowing everyone to have a voice.  

Confidentiality out with the group. 

Final Note

The ECHO movement prides itself on providing a space for professionals to remember why we do our jobs. We hope people will feel a sense of pride, passion and joy of work as a result of taking part. The team are always on hand to reflect on and discuss your experiences within the group and actively support situations and people who will benefit from offline one to one guidance and support.