Adult Mental Health Service User Involvement


 

Service user involvement is about people taking part in shaping mental health services, and takes place in a range of different ways. This might be in reviewing, planning, managing or designing a service, or in staff selection or training.
 
Involving people benefits the organisation and the individuals who use services: by making the service accountable, shaped by people's views, developing ownership and partnership, improving standards and promoting personal growth and self esteem.
 
Since 2001 a Development Worker, local organisations and service users have promoted the fact that service users are expert by experience and developed involvement activity.
 
At our conference INVOLVEMENT MATTERS in 2004, local service users started to pave the way for future improvements. One of the results from this day, produced the PORTSMOUTH SERVICE USER INVOLVEMENT CHARTER. The Charter defines agreement and ensures correct consideration is given when people get involved in projects (see below).
 
The Conference also committed itself to surveying service users about their involvement. This was to be designed to identify the extent to which service user involvement initiatives were currently in place and how these initiatives might be developed and strengthened.
 
Download a summary of the report (MS Word doc - 110kb)
Download the full report (MS Word doc - 330kb)
 
 
THE PORTSMOUTH SERVICE USER INVOLVEMENT CHARTER
 
Those 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 range of ways; with every aspect, including planning, purchasing, prioritising, monitoring, reviewing and staff recruitment/training.
 
Involvement should be an on-going, developmental process, not a one-off project or exercise.
 
Before involving people it is necessary to ask:
 


The Charter opposite is a two-way process and hopes to bring about a positive partnership for meaningful and valuable experiences.
 

THE CHARTER


 

When facilitating service user involvement activity, service users and organisations should:-
 

  • Be clear about payment and out of pocket expenses which should be agreed before involvement begins
  • Provide the opportunity to discuss and agree roles, responsibilities, boundaries and commitment, which will include and consider training needs
  • Determine support arrangements to include pre-meetings and de-briefings as necessary
  • Hold meetings at a time and a place convenient to service users
  • Ensure introductions are made at every meeting or activity
  • Treat service users with respect and have regard for individual needs
  • Give feedback on decisions made and the impact of service user involvment
  • Involve service users in all aspects, including decision and policy making
  • Keep in contact and provide relevant, up to the minute information to those involved, avoiding or explaining technical jargon where possible

Successful involvement derives from a genuine and positive partnership, mutually respecting the contribution of all
 
Download a copy of the Charter as a PDF doc.


 
DO YOU WANT TO BECOME INVOLVED?
 
If so, download and fill in the form below, then send or take it to Duncan Marshall c/o Portsmouth Mind, Fratton Community Centre, Trafalgar Place, Portsmouth PO1 5JJ. Or you could email it to: involvepompey@googlemail.com. The Development Worker will then make contact for an informal chat. If you would like more information regarding service user involvement you can call Duncan on 07834 750981, have a look at what we've done so far or read the feedback from the Reference Group March 2007 and June 2007.
 
Download The Service User Experience Form (Word doc - 3Mb)
 
Or, Download an invitation to join the Service User Reference Group
 
Service User Reference Group Meeting dates for 2008 (PDF)
 
Find out how you can help by downloading a copy of the latest leaflet (March 2008)
 

SERVICE USER & CARER INVOLVEMENT


 
Portsmouth's Service User and Carer Involvement strategy sets the scene for the next couple of years. It aims to give a clear direction for the development of real and meaningful involvement of people, or carers of people, receiving support from adult mental health services in our City. It explores the national and local context; reviews the current position in Portsmouth and sets forth recommendations and an action plan for improvement. See the summary or full version below...
 
Download the Final Strategy Document - 1096kb
Download the Strategy Summary - 864kb
 
And read about the Service User issues emerging from the Core LIT meeting on 9th March 2007.
 

THE PORTSMOUTH PATIENT FORUM


 
The Portsmouth Patient Forum is one of the meetings run by Portsmouth Service User Involvement. It's a monthly meeting for current in-patients to share views and raise issues about hospital care and treatment. Since 2005 the Forum has brought many items to the attention of hospital managers.
 
Download the list of issues raised 2005-2007
Download the current leaflet
 

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