EOI: Foundations in Applied Systems Thinking (FAST) Programme

About the FAST Programme

Foundations of Applied Systems Thinking (FAST) equips neighbourhood teams with the methods and tools to understand and act together on their service system, as well as the skills needed to work effectively across organisational and professional boundaries.

With no prior knowledge required, participants will learn how to:

• Understand and navigate complexity within local systems.
• Work effectively with multiple perspectives and stakeholders.
• Analyse system performance and behaviour.
• Identify opportunities for meaningful improvement.
• Build collaborative approaches to system change.
• Apply learning directly to a live neighbourhood challenge or priority.

Who Should Apply?

Typically, participants are people leading or involved in system change projects, managers and professionals with roles that involve cross-system or cross-organisation working, system-shaping commissioners, and change professionals.

We welcome applications from neighbourhood teams that bring together partners from:

• Health and care services.
• Local government.
• Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations.
• Wider system and community partners.

Participating teams should:

• Identify a current system challenge or improvement opportunity to focus on throughout the programme.
• Nominate a senior sponsor who can support and champion participation.
• Commit to attending all programme sessions within their chosen cohort.

Commitment required

• Participate in 10 x 2.5-hour sessions during September–December 2026.
• Undertake two linked sessions every two to three weeks.

Delivery

• This course is developed by expert Systems Thinking practitioners. It has been tried and tested in the NHS and multi-agency settings.
• The highly interactive training is delivered online via Teams by experienced NHS staff, focusing on hands-on practice with systems thinking tools.