The health and social care landscape across the world is continually becoming more complex. Just as we discover breakthroughs to treat conditions it often seems like new ones emerge and our populations need different approaches.
Project ECHO was designed to meet the needs of underserved populations and has grown across the globe. The Scottish Centre for Project ECHO (SCfPE) not only wants to expand this unique and effective model throughout palliative care, but across all health and social care disciplines.
Our values
Inclusion
SCfPE strives to be accessible to all in an environment of equity and equality. ECHO is driven by an 'all teach, all learn' philosophy where everyone is valued as an expert.
Respect
The model is underpinned by a culture of mutual respect where everyone can feel safe to participate, ask questions, offer insight and support each other.
Safety
We pay particular attention to our relationships with others, ensuring we demonstrate servant leadership and a trauma informed approach to collaborative planning which values the lived experiences of everyone.
Accessibility
No one pays to attend ECHO and we ensure sustainability through the core business activities of the Highland Hospice and the pursuit of operational funding streams for our non palliative work. We also do not pay for subject experts to present at ECHO and draw from a large pool of experts where educating others is a core part of their established role.
Integrity and rigor
ECHO facilitators are always leaders who are current in knowledge, policy and research which is validated through their professional role. We are part of the wider Knowledge Exchange Team within the Highland Hospice and place importance on the two way flow of evaluation and research.
Our current goals
Palliative Care
We will remain committed to running and supporting local and international palliative networks as part of our responsibility to the goals of the Highland Hospice. We have also trained several palliative hubs in other areas.
Social Care
We have begun an evaluated piece of work with Care Homes across the country and have plans to revisit work with Care at Home teams. We also constantly look at how we can contribute to closing the digital inclusion gap through offering group and individial support to social care staff to improve digital skills and confidence. We work across many HSCP areas and support at least three hubs and networks in other areas.
Clinical subjects
We are always open to working in partnership with others to solve problems for other subject areas. We are currently trialling Long COVID ECHOs in partnership with the Long COVID Network within NSS.
Innovation
We are a team of digital practitioners and enthusiasts and we are always looking at ways to improve online journeys and make life easier for others too. We regularly meet other projects to offer advice and help in the belief that help and support should be unconditional.