1. Opportunity Nottingham in partnership with NCVS

2. Aims of the PDU Facilitate the sharing of expertise and good practice
Promote innovation and collaborative working across all sectors
Improve skills and knowledge through collaborative learning
Improve outcomes for beneficiaries in the city.

3. Focus areas Initial work streams: Novel Psychoactive Substances
Service User Participation
Psychologically Informed Approaches
Women’s Complex Needs
Housing First
Lead experts
Regular communication with local professionals

4. Learning events There will be a variety of formats:
Workshops: presenting good practice; exploring research; showcasing innovation; developing skills
Information sessions / more formal ‘training’-style events
Conferences
Communities of Practice: the style, content and frequency of these depends on the subject matter and context.
It’s important to ensure a diverse audience at each event; shared perspectives and collaborative working
Feedback informs future PDU activity
Response to issues raised

5. Learning events The programme of events so far:
Novel Psychoactive Substances Information Event : 17th October
Introduction to PIE (Psychologically Informed Environments): 1st November
PIE Action Learning Sets
Getting Engaged (with your service users) : 10th November
Good Practice in Service User Participation : 17th January
Introduction to Housing First : March
A gender responsive approach to service provision : early 2018

6. Online platform
The PDU online platform will be live early March Professionals and volunteers will be able to:
access information and resources relating to a wide range of fields, which highlight in particular what is happening locally
view materials from learning events
share information with fellow professionals via the platform
share perspectives / expertise by posting comments on resources
There is a lot of potential as the PDU grows to add to the platform so that it becomes, for example:
a way for workers to support each other
a place to exchange ideas / ask questions to experts
a way of facilitating research

7. E-Newsletter Information on current issues and developments
Case studies / examples of what is working well
Promotion of learning / professional networking events across all fields
Case studies are something that has been requested from professionals during our research.

8. Ongoing evaluation
Is the PDU meeting the needs of staff, volunteers and beneficiaries? Is the PDU having an impact on knowledge, skills and practice?
regular communication with PDU participants
assessment of learning; short and long-term
feedback from beneficiaries / service users
monitoring of forum discussions (later)
monitoring usage of and contribution to the online platform
There will of course be a formal evaluation process along with independent evaluation, but key questions to consider as we go along are…..

9. Thoughts and suggestions
Future activities / learning events
CPD needs that the PDU could support