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A new hospital is not enough. Is operational readiness the true measure of success?

The successful delivery of the physical building, on time and within budget, is a phenomenal achievement. In the context of...
Hospital corridor with a patient trolley parked in the foreground and healthcare staff in scrubs working and moving in the background. The bright, clinical setting highlights a busy hospital environment focused on patient care and operational activity.

A new hospital is not enough: why operational readiness is the true measure of success

Within a few short weeks, something is wrong. The emergency department is overcrowded, patient flow is inefficient, and staff are...
A close-up image of many wooden question marks scattered and overlapping, symbolising uncertainty, curiosity, or unanswered questions.

Why aren’t strengths-based approaches working?

I ask that as someone who has spent quite a lot of the last twenty years advocating for them. At...
Four school-age children sitting at desks in a classroom, wearing white school uniforms, listening attentively and writing, with one child speaking while others focus on their work.

DfE SEND AP Change Programme extended until March 2026

Guest blogpost written by Jacqui Dundas, Head of Service for Education and Inclusion at Wakefield Council.

Two copies of the IMPOWER Annual Impact Report 2025 are shown on the left with a blue cover featuring the number “20” formed from coloured shapes and black-and-white photos of people; on the right, the report is open to pages showing a UK map and colourful infographic statistics on impact and reach.

IMPOWER Annual Report 2025

IMPOWER’s latest Annual Impact Report, looking back over the financial year 2024-25. Despite being a time of rapid change in...
A bright hospital corridor with a wheeled hospital bed in the foreground, while several healthcare staff in green scrubs stand and move in the background near doors and equipment.

Beyond design: the implementation imperative for new hospitals

The European Healthcare Design Congress once again inspired with visions for the future of healthcare infrastructure.

A set of IMPOWER and DCN-branded reports shown on a light background. On the left, two overlapping report covers in blue and purple read “The power of prevention and place in new unitary councils,” featuring a black-and-white photo of people in conversation. On the right, an open report spread shows pages titled “A guide for local leaders,” with columns of text, tables, and small images illustrating collaborative working and local context analysis.

The power of prevention and place in new unitary councils Report

Adult Social Care and Local Government Reorganisation

An exhibition stand for IMPOWER Consulting at a conference, with a bright blue and yellow display panel reading “Person-centred care is at the heart of everything we do.” Several people stand and talk in front of the stand, with brochures on a rack and a small table holding fruit and materials inside the booth.

‘Last chance saloon’: releasing ambition to transform the NHS

At NHS ConfedExpo in Manchester last week, both the Secretary of State and the NHS England Chief Executive wanted to...
Smiling young boy with Down syndrome painting at a classroom table, supported by a teacher who is gently leaning in and encouraging him. The room is bright and colorful, filled with educational toys and children’s artwork on the walls.

Inclusive Practices for Children with SEND in Hartlepool Schools 

Hartlepool schools improve SEND inclusion through tailored support, transition tools, and staff-led innovation.

Abstract representation of a network of people connected by glowing lines and nodes, symbolizing communication, social networks, or data sharing, with a warm and futuristic lighting effect.

Bigger isn’t always better for adult social care

Reorganisation offers a chance to reshape adult social care, where scale matters—but connection to place matters more.