Engagement essentials

Engaging people in decisions about the design and improvement of the health and social care services they use means:

• Services work better because they’re shaped by real experiences and needs. 
• Trust improves between the public and those delivering services, making change easier and more sustainable. 
• New ideas and solutions emerge because different perspectives are brought together. 

By working together with people, we can design and deliver services that are more effective, fair, and responsive. This means actively engaging with: 

• People who use services. 
• Their family, carers and other supporters. 
• Communities.  
• Staff who work in health and social care. 

Engagement is not simply a process, it’s a commitment to: 

• Equity: ensuring all voices, especially those often unheard, are included. 
• Trust: Building relationships that foster openness and collaboration. 
• Insight: Gaining deeper understanding of what matters to people.
• Impact: Designing changes that are more effective, acceptable, and sustainable. 
• Accountability: Demonstrating transparency and responsiveness in decision-making.

Engagement essentials

Our engagement essentials offer practical guidance for inclusive, ethical, and meaningful involvement of people.  They ensure that change is shaped by those who experience care and those who deliver it.