mPower launched an ECHO shared learning and knowledge exchange network with Project ECHO. The network started in March 2021 and completed in May 2022, with a total of 14 sessions. In network was well attended and the feedback and evaluation has been excellent:
- Over 95% of participants stating when surveyed, they would like to participate in the mPower network again.
- 95% of participants agreed the topics delivered where relevant to their role.
- 48% of participants said they have shared the mPower ECHO learning with other members of staff or services.
Please see the ECHO mPower Report for more information about the ECHO evaluation.
The ECHO sessions were facilitated by members of the Network. The programme was varied and co-designed with participants who identified education topics.
The reason for joining the ECHO network was the attraction of the structured format which had proven to be a success in Northern Ireland to the extent of being adopted regionally and mandate by the then Health and Social Care Board.
The regularity, the same time of the day, and the early publication of the year’s themes helped to make the sessions valuable learning spaces. The platform helped to start conversations by bringing experts to the table to share their extensive knowledge and experience, followed by facilitated and open discussion to exchange best practice methodology. The non-hierarchical nature of ECHO lends itself to shared learning.
The support of an administrator provided valuable additional resource. The administration of the mPower sessions were not susceptible to de-prioritisation due to other project priorities. There were still some challenges with finding educators and facilitators on occasions, but these would have been encountered for any series of shared learning sessions. Some project team members were reluctant to facilitate but this soon dissipated as others took on the role and eventually this was seen to be a skill, they were glad to learn.
Establishing an ECHO for future similar cross border activity would be a recommendation from mPower. The only consideration might be to where content is stored and aiming to avoid duplication with a project website. As ECHO own the copyright of the recordings there was not a possibility to move these to the mPower legacy website which would need to be considered in future.
The mPower ECHO sessions were:
mPower ECHO Knowledge Network
Case Presentation Schedule
Year 1 – 2021
9 Sessions – 26 Education Presentations
| Presentation Date & Time | Case Presenters | Curriculum / Education Topic | Facilitator |
| Wednesday 10th March 2021 | Klaire Trench-Morris plus beneficiary. | The very simple things that will make a difference to a beneficiary through wellbeing, mental health and eHealth | Nicola Maher, Sue Long |
| Wednesday 14th April 2021 | Marcella O’Dowd & Aidan McCabe | Frailty – how do we build resilience and provide support | Peter Mitchell, Marcella O’Dowd |
| Wednesday 19th May 2021 | Aidan McCabe | The impact of Social Isolation & Poverty on mPower beneficiaries | Aidan McCabe, Chris McGrogan |
| Wednesday 16th June 2021 | Nicola Cooper, Lynn Anderson & Sue Long | Assisting older people engage with technology – ADAM & KOMP | Susan McKie, Anna Terje |
| Wednesday 7th July 2021 | Nicola Maher | Sharing learning and resources across mPower Partners | Sue Long, Cate Thompson |
| Wednesday 15th Sept 2021 | Susan McKie & Sue Long | How to we support our beneficiaries – now and post pandemic | Nicola Maher |
| Wednesday 13th October 2021 | Sue Long & Susan McKie | How mPower can support Hospital Discharge? | Peter Mitchell, Marcella O’Dowd |
| Wednesday 10th Nov 2021 | Susan McKie | Focus on technology – LTC Diabetes MDMW | Aidan McCabe |
| Wednesday 8th Dec 2021 | Anna Terje | Demonstrating the benefits that navigators provide | Susan McKie, Lynn Anderson |
ECHO Knowledge Network
Case Presentation Schedule
Year 2 – 2022
5 Sessions – 11 Education Presentations
| Presentation Date | Case Presenters | Curriculum/Education Topic | Facilitator |
| Wednesday 19th January 2022 | Claire Sharp – Jason Railton SCVO – Digital Inclusion Development Officers | Place-based approach to digital inclusion, developing and supporting digital participation in Scotland | John MacDonald & Lynn Anderson |
| Wednesday 16th February 2022 | Nicola Maher | Personal Development of Project Team (PDP/Lessons Learnt/Shared Learning) | Sue Long & Annabelle Lamont |
| Wednesday 16th March 2022 | Aidan McCabe | Evaluation of mPower eHealth approaches (ARMED / RITA) | Ewan Marshall & Anna Terje |
| Wednesday 13th April 2022 | Geraldine McKnight & Mairead McCann | MDT – Resources / Community Digital Hubs | Peter Mitchell & Nicola Maher |
| Wednesday 18th May 2022 | Teresa Cawley & Aidan McCabe | Dementia services (Dovetailing, leveraging mPower resources) | Teresa Cawley &Teresa McGarvey |
mPower ECHO Network joining instructions to register:
Registration Link:- https://tinyurl.com/mPowerECHO
Should you have any queries in relation to registering, please contact Project ECHO.