The Health and Social Care Alliance

Day

Wednesday 11 February

Time slot

15:00-16:15

Room

Moorfoot room
Wheelchair accessible

Contact

Emma Nieminen

Topics

Health & social care Leadership Impact & evaluation

Overall aim

• Reflect on how values shape decisions in complex, resource-constrained environments.
• Hear real-world examples of balancing what matters to communities with what funders expect.
• Rethink decision-making through creative, peer-led problem-solving activities.
• Explore practical ways to influence decisions and resource use, even even when working within limited budgets or external constraints.

Description

In this interactive workshop, we will explore how third sector organisations can navigate difficult decisions by balancing their core values with the need to demonstrate value: to funders, partners, and the communities they serve.

This session builds on a successful digital event hosted by the ALLIANCE and Health and Social Care Scotland in 2025, where we heard strong appetite for deeper, practical exploration of this topic. Attendees told us they wanted space to think creatively about how to apply values-based decision-making in their own work, and this session is designed to do just that.

We will begin by setting the scene with a short overview of what we mean by “values” and define “value” in the context of health and social care and the third sector. Then, we’ll hear a series of lightning talks from speakers sharing real life examples of tough decisions they’ve faced, how they balanced values with value, and what they learned.

The heart of the session is a collaborative round-table activity, where attendees will work with peers to explore real problems. They will share ideas, challenge assumptions, and imagine new ways of making decisions: ones that are more creative, more humane, and more aligned with their values. This is a space for expansive thinking, not just showcasing work.

We also recognise that many voluntary and third sector organisations operate within systems they don’t control, often facing limited resources and external pressures. This session will support attendees to reflect on how they can navigate those constraints while staying true to their purpose and principles.

Attendees will leave with fresh perspectives, practical insights, and inspiration to lead change in their own work.

Who is the event aimed at?

Directors, Managers

Who is speaking at this event?

ALLIANCE Integration Team

Lightning talks from a range of speakers delivering public services. They will share examples of tough decisions made by organisations striving to uphold their values.