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

learning from LINks and seek to overcome some the barriers to successful
public engagement in new ways. Key themes included:
• The limits to which LINks has been able to be representative of different
groups in Kent and to involve them directly in it’s work
• Limits to the general awareness of the role of LINks across Kent
• The need to strengthen relationships with commissioners
• The perception of a greater focus by LINks on health rather than social care
• The importance of providing feedback on LINks activities and their impact
• Ways to prioritise work in a transparent way
• Internal decision making processes
Most participants in the statement of readiness assessment felt that whilst K
LHW will build on the LINks experience it will be a different organisation with a
broader range of functions and as a consequence will draw on a wider set of
tools and methods.
Healthwatch as a consumer champion
The shift to the consumer model was welcomed by the majority of
participants as it complimented the commissioning perspective in health
and social care. There was a recognition that commissioners were spending
the money of local Kent people and that the public should be empowered
to be more aware of how this was taking place. There was also a universal
view that an informed consumer voice was in the best interests of effective
commissioning and that it could enhance the commissioning process with
intelligence from those receiving services from providers.
To be an effective consumer champion K LHW will need to:
• Identify and build relationships with consumers
• Recognise the diverse and different needs of people in Kent
• Provide mechanisms for them to share their views and experiences
• Provide them with clear and relevant information
• Coordinate individual consumers to enable them to act as a group and
have a collective influence
• Present their views and collective experiences in an effective way
• Be present and observe practice and performance in provider organisations
• Be representative in terms of the staff and volunteers involved directly in the
work of Healthwatch
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The development of Local Healthwatch in Kent: assessing readiness for Local Healthwatch