Publish date: 25 November 2022

Earlier this year specialists in public and patient engagement, Futurebright Solutions (FBS), were commissioned by the Trust to undertake a review of our service user and carer experience meetings and the Trust Partnership and Co-production Strategy. The reviewers engaged with service users, carers, voluntary and community sector organisations, and trust staff to complete this work.

The review included a number of Trust meetings; such as the Service User Carer Experience (SUCE) Sub Committee, the Carers Council and Community Mental Health Forum.

Findings

The review highlighted many great examples of good practice taking place across Trust services. However, it also highlighted gaps in effective engagement, resource and staff capacity. It was found that a clear and consistent purpose to help deliver the Trust’s ambitions for partnership working and co-production was missing.

With the new formation of Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) – which sees the Trust work more closely as part of a larger NW London health and care system; combined with the Trust’s recent change of position from a Mental Health provider to include Physical Health services, the review also highlighted the need to build a Service User and Carer Engagement infrastructure that is fit for the emerging and future health and care landscape.

In summary, the review highlights four key and critical elements for focus:

1. Culture and leadership

2. Reach and representation

3. Workforce development

4. Tools for effective engagement and co-production – such as collaborating with networks and partners; Local Authorities, Provider Collaboratives, Community and Voluntary Sector, and the ICS.

What next?

A set of recommendations were co-produced both during the review along with a set of priority, medium and longer term actions to support delivery of these recommendations.

A delivery plan is being developed to underpin this, and identifies timelines and deliverables, to ensure accountability.

Priority Actions:

1. Provide a central function and resource within the Trust

2. Resolve immediate service user/ carer payment system issues

3. Involve service users and carers in staff recruitment

4. Improve communication and develop a communications plan to increase reach, representation and engagement as well as celebrate and share good practice

5. Review engagement meetings and structures

6. Enhance staff development in this specialist area

Work has already begun on a number of the immediate priority actions. Updates will be provided as this work continues.

For further information – gilliankelly@westlondon.nhs.uk