People who need, access and use services, and their families and carers, should be at the heart of change. Think of services as belonging to the people who need and use them, not the organisations that provide them.
Evidence shows how we engage with people is important.
Making engagement meaningful
Building trust through collaboration, not one-off consultation. Meaningful engagement and involvement of people cannot be undertaken in a transactional way. Solving tough problems together is one of the best ways to build trust.
Making engagement inclusive and ethical
Engage in a way that is legal, ethical and inclusive. This includes:
- conducting an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA)
- conducting a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA, if needed)
- adhering to the Patient’s Rights Act, meeting community engagement standards
- complying with the Public Sector Equality Duty
- getting consent for participation
- understanding each person’s communication needs so you can help them participate
Understanding what people need
Understand what is important to people who use and provide services. This includes their needs beyond clinical ones, like social needs. Then, let that guide your ideas for change.
Make engagement an empowering experience
Shifting power to people and communities helps address imbalances between services and those who need them.