SoWhoCaresAnyway E15 Breaking the Status Quo Through Place-Based Learning

What if healthcare wasn’t just about clinical expertise and procedures, but about learning within communities and building networks to truly understand people's needs? 

In this solo episode, I take you on a swift tour of my personal journey—one that started with a childhood dream of nursing and evolved into a mission to reshape how learning happens to meet the needs of people in ways that work for them. From frontline nursing in the 1980s to leading place-based learning initiatives, I explore how embedding learning cultures within systems can drive people-centred, integrated care. 

In this episode I talk about 

• My journey from frontline nursing to system leadership
• What place-based learning really means—moving beyond workplace learning to learning in the place
• The three core values that emerged from my Darzi Project:
  • People-centred learning
    • education that supports how we meet the needs of people in our communities in ways that work for them
    • creating education and learning environments that work for people providing care
  • Cultures of learning in teams—creating environments that encourage questioning, reflection, and growth
  • Networks for learning together—expanding education beyond organisations into communities and wider systems
• How training hubs, community education facilitators, and cross-sector partnerships are shaping a new approach to learning in healthcare
• Why stepping beyond traditional structures led me to found Reflective Ruth Consultancy and this podcast

Call to Action:

I challenge you to rethink learning, embrace collaboration, and take action—whether in healthcare or beyond. Support the #DoWith movement, build learning networks, and stay curious. 

Resources;

https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/projects/do-with

https://arc-kss.nihr.ac.uk/news/blog-achieving-people-centered-integrated-care-through-place-based-learning

https://arc-kss.nihr.ac.uk/news/blog-achieving-people-centered-integrated-care-through-place-based-learning