An experienced team
The PublicServiceWorks team is made up of experienced people who are committed to working with leaders and communities to explore how the basic values of public service can form the core of innovative and transformative collaborations.
The following quote is attributed to a senior UK politician; but variants of the message are common across public, private and not-for-profit sectors in many countries:
‘Whitehall has all the levers of power, but it is not until you get into government you discover they are not connected to anything.’
The PSW team has long experience of working in the space between decision and action, rhetoric and reality. ‘Who really needs to lead and who to follow?’ is rarely a wasted question, we find, often leading to insights into how things can be changed for the better.
Each member of the team has a record of successful independent practice. Working together, team members have carried out pioneering work in:
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Designing focused research and evaluation linked to practical outcomes for change, and working with stakeholders as co-researchers.
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Working effectively with large groups, through facilitating whole systems, scenarios development and Open Space events.
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Developing policy in health and social care, while never losing sight of ways in which the policy can be implemented.
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Planning, researching, and developing innovative resources to support change.
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Creating and running cross-disciplinary Masters level programmes designed to enable leaders in health and social care use their own experience as the launchpad for learning.
‘[PSW] 'inspires complete confidence in their attitude as researchers - their approach, motivation, and empathy with context, circumstance and purpose. The way they 'get us' is hugely reassuring.'
Charity chair of trustees
At the beginning of August 2024, the PSW team lost a core member and great friend and mentor – Dr Sheila Marsh. Sheila’s sudden death has affected many people, including clients and collaborators. The admiration and affection she inspired are reflected in this tribute document.
What team members contribute
Marsaili Cameron
Helps people and organisations say what they mean to say – and align their words with action.
Maria Duggan
High-profile career in social work, social and health policy as both practitioner and researcher, has spurred national innovations in mental health policy and organisational development.
Roma Iskander
Specialises in design and facilitation of innovative techniques to develop participation and engagement of all involved with organisations in the health, voluntary and local authority sector.
Anna Iskander-Reynolds
Dynamic and accomplished facilitator and whole systems thinker, with over 20 years of experience in creative problem solving and collaboration.
‘How do you improve communications? Start by being quiet. Listen.’
‘To be worth anything, policy has to be rooted in the complexities of real life.’
‘I know that initiatives are successful only when local people, as well as staff and commissioners, have the chance to be “a part of the solution”.’
‘Underpinning all my work is a deep commitment to social inclusion – and hence to social change.
Associate: Dr Louise McDowall
Dance Artist and Dramaturg. Visiting Research Fellow in Exercise and Health Psychology, University of Leeds. Fellow of RAI. Louise is Principal Researcher for the Resi/Dance study for Dance United Yorkshire, a PSW project
New ways of thinking and doing in difficult times.