User Engagement
The Health and Social Care Act 2012 introduced significant amendments to the NHS Act 2006. This guidance supports two legal duties, requiring clinical commissioning groups and commissioners in NHS England to enable:
- patients and carers to participate in planning, managing and making decisions about their care and treatment through the services they commission;
- the effective participation of the public in the commissioning process itself, so that services reflect the needs of local people.
In September 2013, NHS England published ‘Transforming Participation in Health and Care’ with the aim of supporting commissioners to improve individual and public participation and to better understand and respond to the needs of the communities they serve.
This document outlined 12 principles of participation, which are identified below:
Working with each other | Working well together |
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Our relationships will be conducted with equality and respect. | We will understand what’s worked in the past, and consider how to apply it to the present and future. |
We will listen and truly hear what is being said, proactively seeking participation from communities who experience the greatest health inequalities and poorest health outcomes. | We will have a shared goal and take joint responsibility for our work. |
We will use all the strengths and talents that people bring to the table. | We will take time to plan well. |
We will respect and encourage different beliefs and opinions. | We will start involving people as early as possible. |
We will recognise record and reward people’s contributions. | We will give feedback on the results of involvement. |
We will use plain language, and will openly share information. | We will provide support, training and the right kind of leadership so that we can work, learn and improve together. |