Learning how to make things happen: a report of an educational intervention designed to support clinical governance leads in primary care.

Making Things Happen (MaTH) was devised as a six-module educational programme to support clinical governance leads (CGLs) in primary health care. The aim of the programme was to help develop practice CGLs' awareness, understanding and ability to initiate and manage change. The objectives of the training programme were: * to promote an increased and sophisticated understanding of clinical governance by building on knowledge gained already * to develop skills in delivering and sustaining improvements * to improve personal effectiveness in bringing about change. A pilot training programme was planned and delivered twice in 2003/2004 to two separate cohorts of clinical governance leads (n = 30 and n = 15) from two pilot primary care trusts (PCTs). The six training modules were delivered to the two groups by the same staff but at different times and in two separate locations. The effectiveness of the programme was evaluated in both PCTs at three levels. First the content of the programme was evaluated by the CGLs that attended the programme. Secondly, the value of the programme to the PCT was considered by the PCT co-ordinators. Thirdly, the effectiveness of the programme was considered by the presenting team. All three groups felt that the objectives were met, that the principles of MaTH training were sound and that it would be a valuable resource to offer nationally. It was also noted that training for PCT local co-ordinators in how to support clinical governance would be a useful training co-opportunity.