To provide for all, the quality of o. service we expect for our families, and ourselves

Transcription

1 To provide for all, the quality of o service we expect for our families, and ourselves Personal and Public Involvement Annual Report

2 CONTENTS Introduction 3 What is Personal and Public Involvement (PPI)? 3 Leadership 4 Community Development 4 Patient & Client Experience 4 Complaints/User Feedback Process 6 Information Provision 6 User Panels 7 Engaging Carers 8 Volunteering. 10 Consultation scheme 10 Links with the Patient Client Council 11 Working with local representatives 11 Training and support for staff 11 Examples of 12 Children in Care Council 12 Mental Health Client Consultation 13 Cancer Services 14 Homecare Services 14 Special Award 15 Next Steps 16 Acknowledgements 16 2

3 Introduction Welcome to the Northern Trust s Annual Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) Report for 2012/13. This has been another productive year for the Trust s PPI agenda. During 2012/13 the Trust amended its PPI Strategy and began a 12 week consultation in March The Trust consulted widely on its Personal and Public Involvement Strategy over a 12 week period beginning 11 March 2013 and ending 3 June The Trust also held a PPI Workshop with a number of stakeholders to gather direct feedback to shape the Strategy. The Trust continues to find working collaboratively with the wider health and social care family very valuable. The Trust also finds the effective partnership working with the Public Health Agency and the Patient and Client Council very useful and welcomes the opportunity to continuing to work together to ensure that patients, service users, carers and the public are involved in decision making processes in health and social care. PPI is based on the recognition that people in receipt of services should be actively involved in decisions affecting their lives and should fully contribute to any planning, decision making and feedback about their own care or treatment. This PPI Report provides a corporate overview of the on-going and new engagement activities taking place in the Trust. It is encouraging to note that the Trust is continuing to develop new methods of user involvement and there is evidence that engagement activity is influencing plans for services. What is Personal and Public Involvement (PPI)? Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) is an umbrella term that has been adopted by The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) be the engagement, active participation and partnership working with those that have an interest in our business; this includes anyone or group of people who use services directly or indirectly and the communities we serve and their representatives. PPI includes a wide range of activities, for example: Service user/carer and public involvement in service planning and evaluation; Community assessment of health and social care needs; Community development principles and processes; Patient/client centred care and involvement in their care planning; Service user experience feedback; Complaints management; and Volunteering. The statutory duty of public involvement and consultation in the Health and Social Services (Reform) (Northern Ireland) Order 2009 places a requirement on all health and social care bodies to effectively involve local people in plans and decisions about service provision in their area. Within the Trust, there is increasing recognition of the need and right of service users and stakeholders to be effectively and meaningfully involved in all aspects of health and social care development and delivery. DHSSPS issued guidance on Strengthening Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) in Health and Social Services which is aimed at assisting health and social care 3

4 organisations to improve the quality and effectiveness of user and public involvement (DHSSPS, 2007). The purpose of this Circular is to: Strengthen personal and public involvement (PPI) in every health and social care (HSC) organisation; Promote greater uniformity and consistency in PPI activity across HSC organisations; Improve the quality of the individual s experience of HSC services by involving people in plans and decisions about their own care or treatment and learning from their experiences to improve service delivery; Ensure HSC organisations take the public s views into account in the planning, commissioning, delivery and evaluation of services; and Support the integration of PPI into individual and organisational clinical and social care governance arrangements within HSC organisations. Leadership The Trust is committed to ensuring that when we engage, we do it well and monitor the impact of engagement activities. This will only be achieved through visible leadership for PPI and clear strategies. To ensure the effective leadership of PPI the Trust has assigned responsibility in the Trust s Governance Accountability Framework. The Trust s User Feedback and Involvement Committee s terms of reference includes PPI and the Committee on behalf of Trust Board seeks assurance that service users, carers and communities are fully involved in the development of Trust services and that their feedback informs and shapes our business. The Trust established a PPI Steering Group in 2007 that has responsibility for leading the development, coordination, implementation and monitoring of the Trust PPI Action Plan across the organisation. Community Development The Trust has a key role to play in the development of cohesive, healthy communities. This includes service design and delivery in direct response to identified community health issues and needs, but also embraces contribution to wider, positive community change. A community development approach requires that services will be delivered in a considered way, taking into account community resources and circumstances and seeking out opportunities to get the best from all available resources via meaningful partnerships with groups across different sectors. This can only happen when there is a strong and transparent relationship between the Trust and the people it serves. Working in partnerships with community and voluntary sector groups and networks, for example, will promote engagement of local people, identify local needs and as a result tailor services to better meet the needs of service users, patients, carers and their communities. Patient and Client Experience We have made significant progress this year in gathering data from service users about their experiences (both qualitative and quantitative). We turn this data into a format that helps us see patterns and then review our service in the light of the information. In other words the data we have gathered help us make better decisions about how to move the service forward. 4

5 A combination of service user surveys, stories and observations were completed relating to the clinical areas detailed within Table 1. Information was obtained regarding the service users experiences of the treatment and care received and staff practice observed with regard to respect, attitude, behaviour, communication and privacy and dignity. Action/improvement plans were produced following completion of the work within each clinical area Table 1: Quarter ending 30 June 2012 Quarter ending 30 September 2012 Quarter ending 31 December 2012 Quarter ending 31 March 2013 Service Areas included Minor Injuries Unit, Whiteabbey Hospital Day Surgery Unit, Antrim Hospital Emergency Department Causeway Hospital Emergency Department, Antrim Hospital Robinson Hospital Treatment Rooms AMU, Antrim Hospital MAU/Medical 2, Causeway Hospital Coronary Care & Medical Monitoring Unit, Causeway Hospital Radiology Outpatients Antrim, Causeway & Mid-Ulster Hospitals Residential Homes Greenisland House, Rosedale, Lisgarel, Clonmore House and Joymount House Podiatry Clinics Audiology Clinics Antrim, Braid Valley, Mid Ulster and Causeway Hospitals Dermatology Outpatients Antrim, Mid Ulster and Causeway Hospitals Day Centres Maghera, Magherafelt and Wilson House The Trusts survey programme is an important mechanism for becoming more patient focused and provides a quantifiable way of achieving this. Through examining the patients experience, these views can help to inform change and improvements within the Trust. The Governance Department provides technical support and expertise with the design and implementation of surveys. The Trust worked in partnership with Ballymena Inter Ethnic Forum (BIEF) during 2012/13 to complete a piece of research examining the needs of black and minority ethnic communities when accessing mental health services. The research which included a survey of 100 respondents and three focus groups identified a number of issues that will be examined further in partnership with BIEF to ensure that the Trust develops its cultural capability in delivering services. 5

6 Complaints/User Feedback Process The Trust collects and reports on comments and suggestions made by members of the public and service users received through the Your views matter process. All feedback is acknowledged, cascaded to the relevant service for action and filed. There were 1,634 items of user feedback received between 1 April 2012 and 31 March Information provision Accessible service user information and communication is key to effective engagement. Currently, there are leaflets provided in the wards and departments throughout the Trust giving information on out services. Other information leaflets are available from external organisations on services and support provided. This year the Trust decided that service users with a learning disability should have more involvement in the development of written information by setting up and supporting a Learning Disability User Forum. The Trust is legally bound to ensure equal access to all patients for whom it provides a service. The Trust often provides services to patients and their families where English is not their first language. Other groups of patients may also experience barriers to communication, such as physical disabilities. The Trust ensures that a high standard of communication is maintained for these groups by providing a translation service in order for staff and patients to communicate. In November 2012, Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Interpreting Service (NIHSCIS) received a landmark figure of 300,000 requests since its inception in 2004 and the number of requests were fast approaching 350,000 towards the end of this reporting period. To put this in context, in 2004 less than 1000 requests were received in a year and approximately 450 requests are now received each day. During 2012/13, the Northern Trust requested a total number of 9656 interpreters from NIHSCIS and a total of 189 documents were translated. A total of 874 health and social care appointments were supported with the provision of a Sign Language Interpreter. In 2012/13, the Trust developed an Easyread booklet providing information on Type 2 Diabetes. This pictorial information booklet is targeted at people with a learning disability and was produced in response to a need identified by Diabetes Nurse Specialists. This innovative resource will assist clinicians to support people with a learning disability and their carers to manage Type 2 diabetes. The information has been designed and developed through focus group discussions with individuals with a learning disability and their carers. Making Communication Accessible, launched in May 2012, was produced specifically for health and social care staff to enable them to communicate effectively with people who have a disability. The guidance was developed in partnership with representatives from British Deaf Association (BDA), Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), Autism NI, Stroke Association, MENCAP, Disability Action, Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSL) and the Educational Guidance Service for Adults (EGSA). 6

7 User Panels The Trust continues to support its Disability Consultation Panel, Older People s Panel and Mental Health Forum to ensure the effective engagement with disabled people and older people in the development and provision of services. These groups provide a useful source of consultation for the Trust and a much appreciated discussion forum for those involved. We thank the members of the panels for their involvement and support and look forward to working with them in the future. In 2012/13 the Trust, supported by Compass Advocacy Group, set up a service user forum for people who have a learning disability so they can get involved to help us to make our services better. The Trust aims to increase learning disability involvement on interview panels. We are committed to seeing people with a learning disability involved in choosing and developing the staff that support them. The User Forum for People with a Learning Disability will provide a supported environment to identify people who wish to be involved in recruitment and the opportunity for appropriate training. The Trust held the inaugural meeting of the Forum on 27 March Invitations (see below) were sent out to all day services and supported living schemes asking for nominations from those interested in being part of the new Forum. There were over 60 attendees at the meeting. The invitation, programme and presentation for the meeting were developed in partnership with people with learning disabilities to ensure effective communication. Elections during the inaugural meeting secured eight forum members and 13 deputies along with the support they require to participate. We intend to hold four meetings each year. Forum members will agree the terms of reference and the priority actions. A group of people from the Newtownabbey area are working with the Northern Trust to help shape a new supported living facility in Greenisland. Greenisland Stakeholder Group was set up to work in partnership with residents of those living in Greenisland House and their families while the Trust was planning for the provision of services for older people in the East Antrim area. Regular meetings with the group have taken place allowing the Trust to listen to and take on board the views of the members to make sure it provides the right accommodation, care and support for older people. 7

8 Mrs Joan Cosgrove, former chair of Newtownabbey senior citizens forum is a member of Greenisland Stakeholder Group. She said: "Working in partnership with the stakeholders group and the Trust allows me to put forward ideas and suggestions for the Greenisland project. I always feel that my views are listened to and that my contribution to the project is valued." Engaging Carers Family carers have a vital role to play in the health and wellbeing of the general population. Their role is immeasurable and it is important that they are supported and that services for carers are integral to all health and social care services. For this reason there has been a wide range of mechanisms established to ensure that the voice of the carer is heard and that carers can input to the future planning and delivery of our services. During the reporting period the Trust launched its 5 year Carers Strategy and a new resource manual for family carers Looking after someone. The Northern Trust Carers Strategy recognises the importance of carer engagement and has specified Carer engagement as one of its main aims. The Strategy outlines our commitment to family carers and details actions aimed at helping family carers to sustain their caring role and is the result of a wide consultation with a range of individuals and independent organisations. The resource manual for carers Looking after someone is for anyone who is new to their caring role or whose caring role has become more complex or involved. It was developed in response to the feedback received during consultation on the Carers Strategy. As part of the development of the Strategy the Trust facilitated 5 focus groups with carers in order to gather information about the contents, development and implementation of the document. In addition the formal 12 week consultation period resulted in valuable feedback from a number of carers and organisations representing carers. The Trust continues to maintain an up-to-date and relevant database of carers to ensure appropriate consultation and engagement. The Trust s Carers Strategy Steering Group continues to take forward the implementation of the regional Caring for Carers Strategy. The Steering Group comprises of individual carers as well as a representative from Carers Northern Ireland and the work taken forward is based on the principles of partnership working and user involvement. To further enhance partnership working with regard to carers, the Trust funds Carers Northern Ireland to provide an Information and Support Project for Carers. This project includes supporting a number of carers groups throughout the Trust area as well as support for individual carers. As part of the Transforming Your Care (TYC) the regional review of health and social care, the Trust has established taskforce groups to develop care pathways (service specifications) for long term conditions. These groups were established in January

9 and focus on the conditions: frail elderly, respiratory, end of life care, dementia, stroke (FREDS). Carers have played an integral part in these groups. Within the Trust s dementia services, carers are represented in a group that has been set up to oversee the implementation of regional dementia strategy. Carers are also involved in the Trust s Stroke Steering Group which aims to monitor the services delivered to stroke patients. After consultation with carers of people who had a stroke, the Trust s Carers Coordinator worked with the Stroke specialist nurse at Causeway Hospital to set up a support group. This group now meets monthly and works to support carers of people who have had a stroke in the Causeway area. The Trust s Palliative Care Consultation Group consult with families and carers who have been in receipt of palliative care support. The Group is in the process of formalising this process and establishing Term of Reference for a Palliative Care User Reference Group. The main aim of this group will be to Provide a forum to promote partnership within the local area between patients, carers and the Trust. Ongoing engagement with carers is central to the Trust s Carers Co-ordinator role. The Carers Co-ordinator actively encourages development of carers support groups across all programmes of care, and liaises extensively with voluntary sector partners. The Trust s Carers Register, set up as a means of engaging directly with carers, continues to grow. The Trust continues to facilitate focus groups to engage carers. During the reporting year the Carers Co-Ordinator facilitated a focus group with carers of people attending Wilson House, one of the Trust s day support services. Interviews were also held with carers who were unable to attend a focus group due to their caring responsibility. A further example is a series of focus groups examining the needs of carers of people living with dementia. Service user and carer representatives sit on a number of Trust working groups such as Carers Steering Group and the Mental Health Senior Management Team. During Carers Week 2013, the Northern Trust ran information stands in 4 GP practices. These stands displayed information for family carers about the services that are available. The Trust also ran a support/information day on Stress Management and in partnership with Carers NI facilitated an event for older carers. This event was attended by the Minister for Health, Edwin Poots, and the Commissioner for Older People, Claire Keatinge. 9

10 Volunteering Across the Trust and in both acute sites we have excellent records of attracting and retaining the support of volunteers. The volunteers offer a range of support including greeting patients, providing directions and supporting patients at mealtimes. We are committed to putting service users at the centre of our activities and that includes recruiting and supporting service users to become volunteers. The Trust has worked in partnership with Age Concern Causeway to set up and support volunteer mealtime companions in Causeway Hospital. The Trust and Age Concern Causeway have recently trained Volunteer Mealtime Companions as it is widely recognised that good nourishment is vital for health and wellbeing, especially for those already ill. Undernourishment and dehydration can delay recovery from illness and cause longer stays in hospital as well as causing distress to individual patients and indeed their families. The aim of the companions is to support the nursing staff to improve mealtime experiences and to encourage independence and dignity by providing that extra bit of help and companionship at mealtimes. Nurses continue to feed those patients who are so ill they cannot feed themselves, but the volunteer is able to spend enough time with other patients offering whatever help is required for them to enjoy their meal. Volunteers with an age range of plus describe their contribution as being very rewarding as they can see what a difference they can make to individual patients. They also appreciate having the opportunity to talk with older people about their past lives and their contribution to society and likewise the patients enjoy the undivided attention of the volunteer. Both Age Concern Causeway and the Northern Trust are committed to this approach and are determined to advance the mealtime companion project to ensure all older people in their care are able to eat and drink enough in a dignified way. This is an excellent example of how the Trust and the voluntary sector can work together in partnership to improve patient care. Consultation Scheme Consultation is a key element of the Trust s approach to PPI. The Trust recognises the importance of proper and timely consultation as an integral part of fulfilling its statutory obligation when making decisions and planning services. Section 75 is integral to the PPI agenda and the Trust seeks to identify the needs of marginalized individuals and groups. During the reporting period the Trust completed consultation on its Disability Action Plan. A pre-consultation event was held on 30 May 2012 with a number of disabled people and representative groups to provide service user representatives with the opportunity to 10

11 directly engage with Trust staff and provide feedback on the proposed measures. Feedback from this event led to direct changes being made to the content of the plan before it went out for full public consultation. The Trust then consulted widely on their Disability Action Plan over a 12 week period. The knowledge gleaned from this ongoing engagement cannot be underestimated in the development of our Plan. Links with the Patient Client Council The Trust has established close working links with the Patient Client Council (PCC). A representative from the PCC sits on the User Feedback and Involvement Committee which is a sub-committee of Trust Board and meets four times a year. A representative from the PCC is also a member of the Trust s PPI Steering Group and Governance Department staff meet with the PCC regularly to discuss any issues in relation to complaints and PPI. Working with Local Representatives The Trust is committed to working in partnership with local public representatives in developing and delivering services. We have developed a rolling process of briefing for MLAs X constituency to ensure in-depth discussion on local issues; this is supplemented by annual party briefings. Additionally we brief public representatives prior to any big issues emerging in the media. We also, this year, launched an MLA e-brief which has been very well received. Training and Support for Staff Awareness of PPI commences as part of Corporate Induction and is incorporated into other training programmes. The Trust s Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) toolkit provides staff with is a road map to engaging with stakeholders. In addition, face to face training has been provided for key staff to ensure they have the skills to engage effectively with service users and carers. An awareness pack of slides has been developed and is available on Staffnet for team leaders/managers to use in awareness sessions. In addition, face to face training has been provided for 29 project / policy leads to ensure they have the skills to engage and consult effectively with service users and carers. 11

12 Examples of Perhaps the most important measure of the value of engagement is how engagement has influenced service provision; what we do or how we do it. Ultimately, effective engagement results in service improvement for users, carers and communities. The following cameos have been extracted from the report to highlight examples of how engagement works in practice. Children in Care Council There are currently just over 700 looked after children (aged 0-18 years) within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. These children/young people have limited opportunity to experience direct input into shaping and influencing the policies and procedures that impact on their lives. The Trust was keen to find a suitable platform for these children/young people so their voice to be heard and they could talk about matters that concern them. Children in Care Councils (CiCCs) are currently active in England and Wales. The Councils comprise groups of young people who are in care. They meet with staff from children s services and other professionals and members from their local authority. The Councils provide a way for the children and young people to express their ideas to those who are responsible for the services in their local areas. Young people have an opportunity to tell the local authorities how the care system could be improved, both for them and for other young people and children. Children in Care Councils provide children with direct links to the Director of Children s Services, giving them an official forum to express, to key decision-makers, their views in order to influence the services and support they receive. Currently there are no Children in Care Councils in Northern Ireland, however, the NHSCT is seeking to be one of the first Trusts to set up a Council in the Province. The Trust is being supported in this initiative by VOYPIC (Voice of Young People in Care). A Summer Ball for looked after children was held on 21 st August 2013, when the Trust s plans to launch a Children in Care Council was announced. During the evening, those children and young people present participated in a questionnaire, which sought their views on how they felt about a CiCC and if they wished to be part of one. Over 50% of the children and young people stated they would be interested in taking part. The Trust will now seek to meet with these children/young people to agree the best way forward for a Northern Trust CiCC. It is anticipated that the benefits and outcomes of setting up a CiCC in the Trust will: give young people a chance to have a say about the things that really matter in their lives improve the confidence and self-esteem of the young people who participate in the CiCC make a positive contribution to future career opportunities for the young people by providing them with valuable experience of working alongside senior managers 12

13 help to shape the overall strategy for cared-for children and young people within the NHSCT Such a new initiative must be evaluated and reviewed. Regardless of the positive feedback from England and Wales we need to be assured that a CiCC in this Trust will truly benefit the children and young people for whom we have corporate parental responsibility. Mental Health Client Consultation In partnership with the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health (NIAMH) we established 4 Client Consultation Groups (CCGs) in the following areas: Mid-Ulster (Magherafelt / Cookstown) Coleraine/Ballymoney Ballymena / Antrim Larne/Carrick/Newtownabbey The Trust is committed to involving and empowering clients so that they can meaningfully participate in the design and planning of mental health services. The purpose of the Client Consultation Groups is to promote collaboration and partnership working on policy, policy implementation and validation/evaluation of care and support. We conducted workshops in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA). They took the form of training and discussion on meaning engagement and taking control so that the service user voice can be heard particularly at the policy level. The Groups will be looking at new policies as well as the validation of current policies. For example they will contribute to the evaluation of the Holywell Releasing Time to Care Project by considering the implementation of relevant policies. The aims of the groups as follows were established to promote genuine partnership. To provide a voice for clients of mental health services. To participate in the design, planning and delivery of mental health services in both hospital and community settings. To provide a forum for discussion on current mental health issues of relevance to clients. To constructively challenge the Trust in strategic and operational issues that affect mental health service users. To actively participate in the sharing and dissemination of information and views of service users in a two way exchange. To work in partnership with Trust staff to promote anti-stigma practice and promote personal and public involvement. The Client Consultation Groups will act as an independent voice that seeks to ensure a balanced service user viewpoint is coherently communicated. As such, members of the group will seek to discuss issues in a spirit that acknowledges different viewpoints and not promote individual interests. The group will maintain a willingness to reach compromise and develop a consensus position, look for optimum solutions, be open-minded and see the big picture. 13

14 Cancer Services Health and wellbeing events have been held as part of the Transforming Cancer Services Project. The aims of the project are: To offer support to patients living in the Trust locality with a cancer diagnosis To give information regarding the support and advice available to patients and relatives of patients who have had a cancer diagnosis To gain feedback on services, the support and advise patients would actually appreciate and suggestions regarding how we can work better together. These events have been organised at different localities throughout the Trust geographical area using Trust facilities and non-trust facilities. Non Trust premises have been used to encourage people who do not want to go to a hospital setting to attend and to bring services to the communities patients are living in, promoting a feeling of normality for those who are living with a cancer diagnosis. The events were held in partnership with Cancer Focus NI and Action Cancer supported by nurses, consultants, physiotherapists, dieticians, and Macmillan volunteers. A service user who has been through cancer treatment also gives a truthful talk on her experience. To date in 2012/13 a session has been run for breast cancer patients, colorectal cancer patients, and a general cancer event for all. This year events are planned for breast cancer patients and a combined Northern and Western Trust event for urology patients. The Macmillan Information Project Manager worked with outpatient managers to provide basic information packs for patients diagnosed with cancer (as agreed regionally) and provide specialty specific information for patients undergoing cancer treatment. Cancer information stands are placed throughout Trust premises and the Trust s website has links for cancer information. Work has begun with two cancer charities and the Northern Ireland Cancer Network (NICaN) to explore ways to: involve teenagers and young people in informing what support they require from family and health service staff identify support and awareness parents, family, and carers require to support young people identify training required by health and social care staff to support teenagers and young people Homecare Services The Trust s Domiciliary Care (Homecare) Service provide care and support to approximately 3000 people within their own homes, across all programmes of care, delivering a total of 1,460,934 hours of care between 1 April 2012 and 31 March In line with regulation 23 (2) of the Domiciliary Care Agencies Minimum Standards, the Trust established systems during 2012 to systematically monitor the quality of its Homecare Service. 14

15 Monthly monitoring visits to service users homes were a key element to ensure that the Trust has safe governance arrangements in place and regular direct feedback was obtained from service users or their representatives regarding the quality of services received and necessary improvements introduced by management. User feedback surveys / interviews were used: 125 service users or their representatives were interviewed 84 staff who work within the Trust Homecare Service were interviewed Survey / file audits were carried out on service user files and staff files These audits/interviews were carried out by staff managing the service. The final survey will be circulated to all service users. Overall, the results from the surveys and interviews were positive and service users were very satisfied with the service they received from the Homecare Service. Congratulations Special Award The Patient and Client Council presented the Trust with an award for setting up a Health and Wellbeing Group for Service Users and Carers. Physical Health and Disability Service is made up of a number of teams which provide specialist services for those with physical or sensory loss and a Trustwide community Brain Injury Service. The service is available to those who are aged between 18 and 64 years old, who live in the Northern Trust area and have a physical or sensory disability that has a substantial and long lasting effect on their ability to manage daily life. Service users and carers have identified the lack of age appropriate activities to promote health and wellbeing in the community. In a direct response this initiative is to promote the health and wellbeing of service users and carers to be involved in age appropriate activities. A Steering Group was established who then generated a list of activities to be considered and further developed. This Steering Group was set up with membership to include service users and Trust team members. The Steering Group identified organisations/agencies that may be willing to work in partnership with the Trust, i.e. Newtownabbey Council. The Sports Development Officer from Newtownabbey Council was invited to a Steering Group meeting in order to share and highlight resources that could be made available to service users and carers. The Sports Development Officer highlighted the low usage of the local Leisure Centre at certain times of the day The gym is furnished with suitable equipment, i.e. weights worked on air pressure which are suitable for service users with a disability and carers Service users and carers can freely access the Swimming Pool This service to be available to both service users and carers 15

16 In direct response to consultation with service users and carers further schemes are in place in Carrickfergus, Larne, Antrim and Ballymena. The aims of the project were: To promote the health, wellbeing and social activities of the service users with a physical disability and their carers To promote independence To reduce stigma of people with a disability To allow people with a disability to lead fulfilling lives, with choice and freedom Engagement with service users and carers was central throughout the initial participation and has continued with service users chairing and managing their own service user/carer group. A joint protocol was drawn up to identify a robust referral process with the Trust and Leisure Centre. The Active Community Coach secured initial funding for admission fees for service users and carers and also funding was obtained from the Trust Health Promotion Service. Service users and carers have expressed increased confidence, self-esteem and enhanced social interaction. The service users/carers support/activity group began with one day per week and due to popular demand, has increased to three days per week. Feedback from service users and carers include: Service users and carers said that they use the Easy Line studio and the pool facilities. They state it is a great social aspect for them meeting new people and chatting over coffee. One carer stated that it is an opportunity for them both to get out of the house and attend the gym and pool Service users stated that everyone works well within the service users/carers group to give it that extra enjoyment and it is good to make new friends Service users stated that the physical assertion is good to get rid of frustration A service user stated that she felt normal going to the gym and was not stigmatised because of her disability Next Steps While we continue to engage with service users and communities, we recognise there are a number of areas that require a focus in the coming year. These include: Consideration of new ways to involve the public in Trust decision-making including development of roles and further engagement with community and voluntary sector organisations. The development of new user groups and panels. A staged approach to the development of new patient / service user information for individual service areas. Provide further support and training to staff and service users to improve involvement activities. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Trust would like to take this opportunity to thank all service users, carers, user representatives, volunteers and community and voluntary groups that have contributed to the Trust s PPI agenda. Without this contribution 16 this work would not be possible.