The development of Local Healthwatch in Kent Part one: key findings
The development of Local Healthwatch in Kent Part one: key findings
The development of Local Healthwatch in Kent Part one: key findings
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Executive summary<br />
This report describes a structured series <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>terviews, focus groups and<br />
workshops <strong>in</strong> preparation for the <strong>development</strong> work to design <strong>Kent</strong> <strong>Local</strong><br />
<strong>Healthwatch</strong> (K LHW). Researched and written by the Centre for Public<br />
Scrut<strong>in</strong>y, it provides an <strong>in</strong>dependent assessment <strong>of</strong> the read<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>of</strong> statutory<br />
and community stakeholders from across <strong>Kent</strong> to co-produce an effective<br />
local <strong>Healthwatch</strong> organisation.<br />
At the heart <strong>of</strong> the report is a description <strong>of</strong> the participatory workshop<br />
that was held at the end <strong>of</strong> the process that brought together over 40<br />
stakeholders from across <strong>Kent</strong> and from across a range <strong>of</strong> organisations and<br />
roles. Titled ‘Every Decision About Me, With Me’ the workshop <strong>in</strong>troduced<br />
an appreciative <strong>in</strong>quiry approach to the <strong>key</strong> questions <strong>of</strong> what a local<br />
<strong>Healthwatch</strong> organisation should do and how it should be organised to<br />
achieve this. A series <strong>of</strong> <strong>key</strong> messages based on areas <strong>of</strong> consensus amongst<br />
participants are presented, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g:<br />
• Acknowledg<strong>in</strong>g the strong <strong>in</strong>terest and enthusiasm for K LHW across<br />
<strong>Kent</strong> and the desire for it to be a successful and strong champion for local<br />
people<br />
• Highlight<strong>in</strong>g that all parties believe that an <strong>in</strong>formed and <strong>in</strong>dependent<br />
organisation will be a powerful driver for effective commission<strong>in</strong>g and the<br />
provision <strong>of</strong> quality services<br />
• Build<strong>in</strong>g on the learn<strong>in</strong>g and experience from LINks<br />
• Recognis<strong>in</strong>g that the local aspirations for K LHW and the new roles it will<br />
play mean that different organisational forms and processes will need to be<br />
considered<br />
• Identify<strong>in</strong>g the new skills and competencies staff and volunteers will need to<br />
make K LHW effective<br />
• Plac<strong>in</strong>g a commitment to engag<strong>in</strong>g and <strong>in</strong>volv<strong>in</strong>g diverse and seldom heard<br />
groups from across <strong>Kent</strong> at the centre <strong>of</strong> how K LHW is developed and<br />
how it works at a practical level<br />
• Develop<strong>in</strong>g public and stakeholder credibility for K LHW by develop<strong>in</strong>g clear<br />
roles and support for staff and volunteers<br />
• Tak<strong>in</strong>g a whole system approach to the success <strong>of</strong> local K LHW and<br />
recognis<strong>in</strong>g the role that all partner organisations <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g commissi<strong>one</strong>rs<br />
and decision makers will play <strong>in</strong> this<br />
• Ensur<strong>in</strong>g that K LHW pays significant attention to social care and the<br />
<strong>in</strong>tegration <strong>of</strong> services <strong>in</strong> <strong>Kent</strong> as well as to healthcare<br />
• <strong>The</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> co-produc<strong>in</strong>g K LHW <strong>in</strong> a way that demonstrates and<br />
models best practice that will be taken forward by the organisation<br />
4<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>development</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Healthwatch</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Kent</strong>: assess<strong>in</strong>g read<strong>in</strong>ess for <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Healthwatch</strong>