The Leeds People’s Voices Partnership (PVP) brings together involvement leads from across health and care organisations in Leeds to work together as one team.

We recommend the following principles are adopted when approaches are made to people and communities for the purpose of supporting research:

Build on what we know

• Check if work has already been done in this area and if this could inform and support your work.
• If there is already enough evidence and insight is the proposed engagement work needed?
• Work in partnership and/or coordinate with any work that is already happening.

Hear the voice of inequalities

• Ensure that consideration has been given to how the voice of inequalities is going to be included in the engagement work.
• The engagement work should be carried out in a way that is inclusive and accessible.
• Provision and resources need to be made available for appropriate support to be provided where needed.
• People, groups, and communities should be able to be involved in a way that works for them.

Recognise and reward people for their contributions

• People, communities, and groups should be adequately rewarded for their time and input.
• There should be a range of incentives available to support involvement from different communities.

Feedback to people who have been involved

• Ensure feedback on progress and outcomes are provided to those who have shared their experience.
• Even when there will not be clear outcomes, ensure that updates on progress are provided.
• Outline and share the timescales for feedback and sharing outcomes.

Work with and alongside community organisations in Leeds and in partnership with the PVP

• Inform PVP of upcoming research and involvement opportunities as early as possible to allow for meaningful community engagement.
• Link in with community and PVP partners and work with them to engage with communities.
• Use the expertise and contacts provided by these partners to better understand and engage with communities.
• Reward and recognise the value of these partnerships and links into communities.
• Recognise the role of the Third Sector in research activities; and ensure adequate payment for staff time is factored in when planning engagement activities.
• Feedback to PVP about outcomes of any research and engagement that they have been involved with and share findings and reports to the involvement library.

Understand and ask people what is important to them

• Use the engagement activities as an opportunity to ask communities what is important to them.
  • Use the information provided to help shape future research where possible.
  • Where communities have helped shape research, feed this back to them.

Consider the 3Cs (communication, coordination, and compassion) when working with communities

• Communication
  • Information should be simple, clear and available in a range of formats as appropriate.
  • People should be communicated with in a way that works for them.
  • People should be kept informed and updated.

• Coordination
  • Any work undertaken should be coordinated and delivered in partnership with other engagement work taking place, wherever possible.
  • Existing opportunities and events for engaging with communities should be utilised to provide a coordinated approach to engagement.

• Compassion
  • Adopting a compassionate approach when working with communities should underpin any engagement work undertaken.
  • Working in partnership with organisations experienced in working with communities would help support this approach.

For further information please contact Healthwatch Leeds

Email: info@healthwatchleeds.co.uk

Tel: 0113 8980035