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

All participants shared an aspiration for K LHW to be effective in the way
it works with diverse groups in Kent. It was important that K LHW takes a
proactive approach to identifying groups it will engage, identifying the barriers
they face and developing concrete and specific strategies to overcome these.
K LHW should be able to evidence how it works with seldom heard groups
from across Kent.
Part two of the report captures a wide range of different groups that have
been proposed and championed by participants. A number of principles
emerged in discussions about how to identify and prioritise these groups:
• Data should be used from the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and other
sources
• Data should be triangulated with insight from local community and voluntary
groups who have direct contact with groups
• Individuals stories and experiences are essential to inform the engagement
strategy
• It is important to recognise that some groups may be located in small parts
of Kent whilst others may be distributed across the county
• Health inequality data should be linked to equality and diversity data
• Where there are already existing networks for these groups across Kent K
LHW should make strategic contact with the network coordinators – for
example in the case of learning disability and cancer networks
• Different engagement strategies are needed with different groups
Participants provided many insights and local knowledge about diverse and
seldom heard groups in Kent. Data in part two of the report provides a long
list of groups but it is recognised that it is still not exhaustive and K LHW will
need to be constantly questioning itself and challenging assumptions about
diversity in Kent. The most frequently mentioned groups for K LHW to identify
and engage were:
• Children and young people
• Older people living in residential and nursing homes
• Older people with dementia and their carers
• Gypsy and Traveller community
• Young people with mental health needs
• People with learning disabilities
• Rural populations
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The development of Local Healthwatch in Kent: assessing readiness for Local Healthwatch