Report

Concept to culture: A maturity model for wellbeing policy

This report from UK think tank Carnegie UK explores what a maturity model for embedding wellbeing approaches in public policy might look like.

In recent years there has been a global shift in public policy, moving from traditional economic and output-based measures of government performance towards a more holistic focus on measures of wellbeing.

Governments are increasingly recognising that societal progress must be measured not only in material terms, but also by quality of life, mental and physical health, and other factors which determine the overall wellbeing of their citizens.

At Carnegie UK we refer to this approach as ‘working to improve our collective wellbeing’. We define this as everyone having what they need to live well now, and into the future.

We believe that collective wellbeing improves when social, economic, environmental and democratic wellbeing outcomes are seen as being equally important and are given equal consideration in policy making. Social wellbeing: We all have the support and services we need to thrive. Economic wellbeing: We all have a decent minimum living standard. Environmental wellbeing: We all live within the planet’s natural resources. Democratic wellbeing: We all have a voice in decisions that affect us.

Embedding wellbeing into public policy is a complex, multi-dimensional process that requires a structured framework for change.

A maturity model provides a staged pathway for organisations and governments to assess their progress, identify gaps, and plan for next steps.

This document explores what a general maturity model for embedding wellbeing approaches in public policy might look like, outlining key stages, characteristics, and enablers at each point in the journey.