System Change Alliance & Action Sessions in North Devon
In 2023/24, Encompass South West and CRAFT, with support from the Devon Mental Health Alliance, kicked off a series of reflective sessions in North Devon called SCAAS -System Change Alliance and Action Sessions. These sessions were all about creating space for people working across the system to pause, reflect, and explore the deeper dynamics that shape their work,
relationships and the structures they operate within.
At the heart of SCAAS was critical reflection – a way of thinking that goes beyond the usual firefighting to look at the bigger picture. It gave people the chance to explore things like power dynamics, emotional strain, and inequalities that often
go unspoken in busy, demanding roles. The sessions encouraged open conversations, shared learning, and a big dose of compassion!
A lovely part of each session was the inclusion of Fika - the Swedish tradition of slowing down over coffee, food and meaningful conversation. This practice, embedded in each session, created a calm and inclusive space where professionals could connect, reflect, and recharge. Plus, the cakes were pretty great too!
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. People described the sessions as:
“restorative, a virtual hug, and a hopeful morning”
Over the six sessions, attendees shared their motivations, examined how power shows up in practice, and reflected on their language and behaviour with a lens of empathy.
People told us they’d experienced:
A shift in how they think about and use power.
More self-awareness and better emotional regulation.
Stronger relationships with colleagues and better multi-agency working.
A more conscious use of language that feels fairer and more inclusive.
A boost in wellbeing from being allowed to slow down and just ‘be’
What’s been even more exciting is that the learning didn’t stop at the sessions. People took what they’d explored back into their teams and started making changes - both in how they worked with others and how they thought about the
system as a whole. The work has been so positive that more sessions are now starting up in Exeter!