The development of Local Healthwatch in Kent Part one: key findings

Stage Three: Delivering the interviews and focus groups
During August and September 2011 the Centre for Public Scrutiny ran a
series of interviews with 18 individuals.
This was followed up by a series of four themed focus groups on the following
perspectives:
• Clinical Commissioning Groups
• Members of the public not part of LINks
• Community and voluntary sector
• Gypsy and Traveller community in Kent
Outputs from these pieces of work were written up and used to inform further
engagement with stakeholders as key themes emerged.
Stage Four: Reflecting on findings through
a participatory workshop
The learning from the interviews and focus groups was used to design a
one-day workshop for stakeholders to explore key themes from the work
so far and to prioritise issues for the future development of K LHW. Over 40
individuals attended the workshop representing a wide variety of groups, roles
and agencies.
The purpose of the workshop was to begin the process of jointly designing
aspects of K LHW. The day was called ‘Every Decision About Me, with Me’
illustrating the appreciative approach used. Four sessions focused on key
themes which had emerged from the interviews and focus groups.
Participants were individually invited to ensure there was a mix of people
who would relate to K LHW from all perspectives. For example there were
people from user groups, carers, people who might be part of K LHW,
council officers and politicians who might be involved in commissioning or
sitting on boards where K LHW will participate and others. Each workshop
provided an opportunity for dialogue. Using pre-drafted future or aspiration
statements, participants developed a shared sense of how they wanted K
LHW to operate. Some participants suggested areas they felt needed to be
developed in order to create the agreed future. Other participants joined them
in breakout groups to do some detailed work on the identified area. These
were written up and key points fed back.
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The development of Local Healthwatch in Kent: assessing readiness for Local Healthwatch