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

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Development Participants were keen to see significant attention given to the development programme for K LHW and felt that supporting staff and volunteers to have a structured programme was essential to the success of the initiative. They also recognised that development was a two-way process and that stakeholder organisations would benefit from engaging with K LHW in an organised programme. Participants were generous in offering their support and time as well as access to in-house training opportunities. A whole system programme of induction for K LHW is essential to build relationships and raise awareness of the new body. A more detailed training and development programme should compliment and build on the induction phase. Participants felt that the development programme should be linked to work on the roles and competencies required for K LHW and should be available to staff and volunteers. Commissioning and procurement The commissioning and procurement process for K LHW should be managed on the principles of co-production, informed by the following factors: • The K LHW ‘body corporate’ will need to be well placed to coordinate any distributed delivery of functions. It will need a clear central governance structure to ensure accountability and clarity of role and functions. • Different organisations may have the specialisms to deliver specific parts of the Healthwatch brief. • Local organisations are well placed to provide evidence, understanding and insight into the needs of local communities and seldom heard groups. • The need to align commissioning goals to the needs and interests of health and social care consumers across Kent. • The importance of identifying the types of evidence that commissioners would need to measure the effectiveness of K LHW. Participants welcomed the need for the commissioner to ensure that K LHW could demonstrate and evidence its work with diverse and seldom heard groups. This role should be strongly emphasised in the contract. Some participants felt that it was too early on in the process to give concrete views on the actual procurement process other than at the most general levels. 28 The development of Local Healthwatch in Kent: assessing readiness for Local Healthwatch
Debates During the statement of readiness assessment stakeholders were able to articulate a number of debates and areas of potential tension within the Healthwatch proposals. It was recognised that these issues would be an inevitable part of any transition to a new organisation and that it was healthy to identify and explore the themes in anticipation of any possible disagreements. Participants felt that collaborative working at an early stage in the development of K LHW could provide some joint solutions to these issues or practical ways to respect and hold these tensions. The debates included: • The accountability of K LHW to both it’s commissioner and to local people in Kent alongside HWE. • The dual relationship between K LHW and Kent County Council. K LHW will be commissioned by Kent County Council and will also be working with the authority to champion the voices of local people who use social care services. In this role K LHW will be examining decisions and plans of Kent County Council. • The role of Kent County Council as the lead partner in the co-production of K LHW as a new organisation and the process of how aspects of LINks will evolve into K LHW. • The role of K LHW on the Health and Wellbeing Board as both a champion for local people’s voices and as a partner in strategic decisions that may have unpopular consequences. • The need for K LHW to represent the consumer voice and intelligence from signposting and advocacy work across Kent when diverse groups may have different views and priorities. Part one: key findings 29
Page 1 and 2: The development of Local Healthwatc
Page 3 and 4: Contents Executive Summary.........
Page 5 and 6: A range of suggestions and practica
Page 7 and 8: The assessment has engaged a wider
Page 9 and 10: These themes formed the basis of ke
Page 11 and 12: Stage Five: Reporting The final sta
Page 13 and 14: • A free-flow of information to e
Page 15 and 16: Key themes from the breakout sessio
Page 17 and 18: • All parties welcome informed ch
Page 19 and 20: Evolving from LINks Participants’
Page 21 and 22: K LHW will need to use a mix of com
Page 23 and 24: It was felt that a proper understan
Page 25 and 26: and K LHW will need to collaborate
Page 27: e a risk as local people may get co
Page 31 and 32: Healthwatch Development 6. The Loca
Page 33 and 34: 15. In parallel with the developmen
Page 35 and 36: 21. It is important to recognise th
Page 37 and 38: Inclusion 30. A written strategy fo
Page 39 and 40: 38. Ensure the video of the ‘Ever
Page 41 and 42: Julie Van Ruyckevelt, West Kent Pri
Page 44: The Centre for Public Scrutiny Loca

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

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?