WORKING TOGETHER
On the 23rd February 2006 at the Inn Lodge in Portsmouth, service users and others from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight attended 'Working Together' facilitated by Anne Beales, Together's Director of Service User Involvement.
The purpose of this event was to hear about different practice in the area and to begin to look at forming an umbrella network, co-terminus with the mental health trust boundaries within the geographical area. This network could bring Hampshire and the Isle of Wight into a way of working which has been successful elsewhere in ensuring service users are influential. This could build on good practice and strengthen skills and support, being flexible enough to accommodate changing needs of individuals and groups and the shifting expectations of policy makers, commissioners and providers.
Activities of the network could include:
- facilitating active links between service user groups and individuals
- capacity building for service user groups
- broker and facilitate access to service users for purposes of consultation and other activities
- training
Watch this space for more development details to come shortly.