Healthwatch Kent

Who are we?

 We are the new, independent consumer champion for health and social care  Every upper tier Local Authority has a Healthwatch  We were established as part of the NHS Reforms – Health & Social Care Act 2012  We have been commissioned by Kent County Council

OUR MISSION To raise the public's voice to improve the quality of local health and social care services in Kent

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What we do

Provide people with FREE information and signposting about local health and social care services  Gather views and experiences of local people on the way services are delivered  Enter and View adult health and social care services  Influence the way services are designed and delivered based on evidence from those who use services  Pass information and recommendations to other local Healthwatch, Healthwatch England and the Care Quality Commission

What don’t we do?

 Handle complaints  Answer to Kent County Council – we are independent  Politics! We are free from any political influence  Make any money! We are a not for profit organisation

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Local Healthwatch Organisation

Collectively: Help to shape the planning and delivery of all local health and social care services.

 Have membership of the health and wellbeing board to influence local commissioning.

 Monitor and scrutinise local services to bring about improvements .

Volunteering Opportunities

 Promoting the work of Healthwatch Kent  Representing Healthwatch Kent at meetings  Intelligence gathering of views and evidence    Participating in reviews of services Holding events and activities  Research and surveys Reading documents/newspapers  PR & Communication

Role: Healthwatch Champion

 “spread the word” about Healthwatch Kent  Ensure people and groups in your area know about Healthwatch and encourage them to get involved  Distribute posters and leaflets to your local community  Be the eyes and ears of your local community  Champions can also opt to undertake other Healthwatch Kent volunteers roles if they wish  The specific roles and responsibilities will be tailored to an individual. For example, they may focus on a geographical area or a community of interests

Role: External Representative

 Attend meetings on our behalf and embed patient voice in the planning and delivery of services  Report back on specific meetings allocated to you  Represent the broad interests of patients and the public in Kent, NOT your personal view, or the view of other organisations you are involved in  Make time to understand the briefings offered by us  Provide written reports following meetings

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Role: Enter & View Authorised Visitor

Visit health and/or social care premises to observe and assess the nature and quality of services provided  All our Enter & View volunteers will undergo training prior to starting their visits  Collect views of service users, carers and relatives and staff.

 Evaluate services objectively  Collate evidence based findings and report back

The Enter and View Visits

 All visits will be in teams  Visits may be during the week, or at weekends, and at varying times through the day  Volunteers to contribute at least 1 visit a month  Each visit may need an input of about 1-2 days including planning, visiting and write up  Some follow up time may be required

Role: Area Co-ordinators

 Chair the Area Team meetings, keeping the agenda on track   Represent Area Team at Healthwatch meetings Compile agendas for your Area Team meetings   Represent Healthwatch Kent in your locality where relevant Liaise with the other six Area Co-ordinators

Role: Readers

   Help us to analyse and summarise data that we receive from a range of sources e.g. reports,   newspapers Read and digest the papers allocated to you Identify relevant information pertinent to Healthwatch Distil and crystallise information based on evidence Liaise closely with Communication Manager

Role: Administrator

 To provide administrative and general secretarial support  To support our area team meetings  Help organise events and meetings  Book venues

Round 2 Volunteer Recruitment

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Advertised to the wider public

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Area Meetings 5 th Feb till 17 th Feb 2014

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Deadline for applications 3 rd March 2014

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Short listing 5 th March 2014

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Round One recruits will be involved in the process