A collaborative step forward in Norfolk and Waveney
10 September 2025
We’ve always been interested in working with integrated care boards (ICBs), because of the potential for making Schwartz Rounds available to greater numbers, and a wider range, of staff working in health and care professions.
The Schwartz team at Norfolk and Waveney ICB invited colleagues in Adult Social Care to attend Rounds, receive facilitator training and join the steering group. We hear from the Schwartz lead, Megan Edwards, and a social worker and facilitator, Monika Owolabi, about their experiences.
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Megan Edwards
“In Norfolk and Waveney, we are proud to be pioneering a more integrated and compassionate approach to staff wellbeing and resilience across our Integrated Care System by offering system-wide Schwartz Rounds to all working within health and social care. One of the most meaningful developments in this journey has been our collaboration with Adult Social Care.
Recognising the shared emotional labour across both health and social care, we extended an invitation to our Adult Social Care colleagues to attend facilitator training and join our Schwartz Rounds Steering Group. This gesture, made in the spirit of collaboration and multi-disciplinary working, has blossomed into a deeper partnership.
This collaboration has brought fresh insight and energy to our work including enriching the content and relevance of our Rounds. It has deepened our understanding of the pressures and experiences unique to social care, while also highlighting the shared emotional terrain across our Integrated Care System. By working together across traditional boundaries, we are breaking down silos and creating a more unified, compassionate workforce, in turn building a more inclusive and representative space for reflection—one that welcomes all staff, regardless of role or setting.
Monika Owolabi, a Social Care colleague who trained as a facilitator and joined the steering group. has gone above and beyond her professional duties to raise awareness of Rounds amongst Social Care staff. She is a highly skilled facilitator and is a most welcome addition to our team, helping to shape the direction of Schwartz Rounds to ensure that the voice of social care is not only heard but championed.
As we continue to grow this offer across Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System, we remain committed to fostering environments where all staff feel seen, supported, and valued. We are not only strengthening the impact of Schwartz Rounds, but also modelling the kind of integrated, compassionate culture we want to see across health and social care. This is aligned with our Integrated Care System values, because by supporting our staff, we ultimately improve outcomes for our communities.
When we make space to reflect together, we care better – both for others and for ourselves.”
Monika Owolabi
“It has been a truly enriching journey for me as a Schwartz Round facilitator. Having previously heard about the Rounds, I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to complete the facilitator training. The two-day programme in London was both inspiring and insightful, allowing me to connect with professionals from a wide range of helping professions. Through sharing our experiences and mutual passion for staff wellbeing, I gained a deeper understanding and appreciation of the power of Schwartz Rounds.
Over the past 12 months I have enjoyed collaborating with colleagues from the ICB on the Rounds. I have developed a greater insight into the challenges faced by our colleagues in health, and listening to their powerful, often emotional stories has been enriching for me as a practitioner. Also being part of the Steering Group has been a great experience for me as everyone brings their own unique perspective to shaping the Rounds.
It has been truly heartwarming to witness our colleagues – both from Adult Social Care and Health – open up and share their difficult emotions during the Schwartz Rounds. Two sessions in particular have stayed with me: Imposter Syndrome and A Patient/Service User I Will Never Forget. Both topics evoked deeply painful yet profoundly powerful emotions, resonating strongly across disciplines. It was a privilege to be part of the process, and especially meaningful to serve as a facilitator for the Imposter Syndrome Round. The vulnerability, honesty and connection shared in these spaces have been a testament to the strength and compassion within our professions.
It is also heartening to see staff from Adult Social Care beginning to attend the Rounds. I hope they will feel empowered to share their own stories in the future and experience the genuine benefits that Schwartz Rounds can offer.”
I am especially grateful to Megan, who has been incredibly supportive in offering me numerous opportunities to develop my facilitation skills. Her encouragement and commitment have played a key role in my growth in this role.”