The process of editing my first edition of the IPDJ and doing my ‘day job’ as Director of Public Engagement at the University of Nottingham has had far more moments of synergy than I could ever have predicted. I say this because, while the responsibilities associated with each role are significantly different, what has struck me is how the principles and core values are complementary.

As you read the articles in this issue, reporting on innovation, research and methods in practice development, you may notice that core to their approach is a focus on relationships. These are relationships fostered at all levels of an organisation as the emphasis is on co-creation of meaning, vision, commitment and learning. There is also attention paid to measuring outcomes that are of value to people receiving care.

This article by Gemma Stacey is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 3.0 License.