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The PSTA / Commissioning Compass / Reading

Using and improving the Compass

Introduction. Commissioning Compass learning and practice.

Use the Compass for a decision or change you can act on. Decide which place, service, or set of relationships you’re assessing, and whose experience you need to understand.

Carry out an assessment

Record your first view of the eight aspects, then work through the questions and the factors that constrain or enable commissioning. Add the evidence behind your answers. Ask colleagues to record their own views, and discuss why scores or accounts differ.

Choose what to act on, who can do it, and when you’ll review the result. Keep the original record so you can compare what you expected with what happened.

Open the assessment

Choose an edition

The original assessment uses eight aspects, scores, questions, and factors. smartCompass offers sixteen reflective questions. The v2 beta uses an eight-lens matrix. Choose the edition that helps you examine your work.

Compare the editions

Corrections and examples

Tell the PSTA which question or part of the method you used, what you were trying to understand, and what helped or missed something. Include the evidence behind a correction, and suggest wording where you can. Leave out identifying case details unless you have permission to share them.

Send a question, correction, or example