What is the Charter
The Portsmouth Service User Involvement Charter is a document which sets down guidance for service commissioners and providers on how to involve service users.
It was written in 2006 by service users, following a service user conference event. When the Charter was launched both local commissioning bodies (the council and the health service) and all commissioned adult mental health service providers formally signed up to abide by the Charter.
The Charter is a two-way process and hopes to bring about a positive partnership for meaningful and valuable experiences.
It is firmly based on the principle that people with experience of using services should be involved in improving the quality of services and participate in decisions about the way they are designed and managed.
People should be able to contribute to these processes in a number of ways; with every aspect, including planning, purchasing, prioritising, monitoring, reviewing, and staff recruitment/training.
 
How does it affect me If you work in adult mental health services
You must follow the charter guidance. Services which consistently do not involve service users or do not comply with the charter guidelines will be suspended or removed from the charter membership list. A full list of organisations that are currently signed up, suspended, or removed can be found below.
If you are a service user involved in developing mental health services
We want to know about your experiences. Please tell our service user involvement worker. His contact details are below
 
How will compliance be monitored
Everyone who gets involved in developing mental health services will be asked about how they were treated and supported.
A small panel of service users will meet regularly to look at responses and make decisions about how any issues that are raised should be handled.
In the future, we will be looking for new ways of monitoring the quality of service user involvement.
 
Why get involved?
All public services have a duty to carry out and plan ongoing consultation with its service users or ‘customers’. In Portsmouth, adult mental health services are commissioned from a number of service providers (for example, the council, the health service, local organisations etc), and we want to ensure that where possible, service users are fully involved in shaping these services.
 
People who use services can be experts at identifying what is good and bad, and what can be improved.
 
Getting involved builds trust and confidence; makes services accountable for what they do and helps develop ownership and partnership.
It demonstrates that people’s views are listened to and valued; improves standards; generates new ideas and perspectives; and helps to develop the skills, confidence and the self esteem of service users and staff.
 
Who should be involved and how does it happen?
Everyone who is currently using adult mental health services or has done so in the past can be involved.
 
Involvement can take place in lots of different ways – how much and how often you get involved is up to you.
 
You might just want to give your views on a particular topic, or you might like to get involved in something more challenging, such as reviewing, planning or designing a service; formulating a policy; or getting involved in staff selection and training.
 
Opportunities to get involved will be posted here on the Thinkingahead website, so keep an eye out!
 
Will I get support?
If you are involved in a project we have a dedicated service user involvement officer who will give you all the support you need.
 
The involvement officer is impartial and independent. They are part of the commissioning unit and do not work for any of the services. The involvement officer provides, advice and individual support.
 
Will I get paid?
Most opportunities don’t attract payment, but reasonable expenses are provided where appropriate.
 
Why not contact us today?
Involvement is rewarding and inspiring. It will help to develop your confidence, skills and experience – and you could get a reference for the work you’ve done.
For more information contact:
James Gagliardini
Portsmouth Service User Involvement Officer
Tel: (023) 9268 8623
Mobile: 07834 750981
Email: james.gagliardini@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
 
Portsmouth Service User Involvement Charter.
 
The following organisations are signed up to the charter and agree to follow its principles:-
 
Portsmouth City Council
Solent NHS
Portsmouth Mind
Richmond Fellowship
SEAP (Advocacy Services)
Port of Call
Solent Mind
 
Download a Leaflet