Dalla Lana School of Public Health

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Location:

Rotman School of Management, South Building, Room 133
105 St. George St, Toronto M5S 3E6

Description:

This talk covers themes of population health improvement and academic researcher positionality. These themes are explored through an ongoing UK case study that seeks to collectively develop a new model for the financing and delivery of localised health improvement interventions which we call Community Transformation Funds (CTFs). The CTF model is an adaptation of the Social Impact Bond (SIB) model. It shares a focus on outcomes measurement, multiparty collaboration across the public and philanthropic sectors and extra, non-traditional streams of finance. However, the CTF diverges from the SIB in two important financial aspects. First, the CTF is financed solely by philanthropic investors (such as large charities), who, second, do not seek any return on their investment.

The first part of the talk outlines the practical and theoretical underpinnings of the CTF model and charts the journey from conceptualisation to early delivery. The CTF is designed to provide local small non-profit organisations with finance, data and managerial support to deliver services of value to local people within the context of the new Integrated Care Systems rolled out in the English NHS since 2022. The second part of the talk reflects upon the researcher experience of working as ‘learning partners’ through the co-design process of the CTF with other organisations advocating for and implementing the new model. A learning partner role differs from that of a more conventional evaluator in temporal and relational terms thereby offering opportunities for deeper understanding and impactful scholarship, yet at the same time poses some challenges and raises important questions about researcher positionality.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Speaker Bio:

Alec Fraser is a Senior Lecturer in Public Policy & Management at King’s College London. His research focuses on evidence use, financial incentives, and public management reform in the UK and EU countries. He has a particular interest in health and social care. He has extensively researched the development of Social Impact Bonds over recent years. Prior to entering academia, he worked in NHS administration and management. He has an MA in Public Policy and a PhD in Management – both from King’s College London. Alec co-edited the book ‘What Works Now: evidence-informed policy & practice’ published by Policy Press in 2019. He is also a co-author of the new edition of ‘Making Health Policy’ for the Open University Press published in 2023.