DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
PARTICIPATION
AND
ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY
2016-2019
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Participation & Engagement Strategy v16
Contents
Page
Foreword from chair and vice chair of the Integration Joint Board
3
Introduction
4
Background
5
Participation and engagement principles and definitions
6
Development of this strategy
8
Aims and objectives
9
Supporting, monitoring and reviewing this strategy
12
Appendices
1 – Nine national health and well-being outcomes
13
2 – National standards for community engagement
14
3 - Dumfries and Galloway health and social care partnership
stakeholders
15
4 - Terms of reference for locality participation and engagement
groups
17
5 - Methods of participation and engagement
20
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Participation & Engagement Strategy v16
Foreword from chair and vice chair of the Dumfries and Galloway Integration
Joint Board
It is with great pleasure, and a high degree of personal commitment to this work, that
we introduce this first Participation and Engagement Strategy for the Dumfries and
Galloway Integration Joint Board (IJB).
The Strategy provides a framework for how we will involve people in the business of
health and social care in Dumfries and Galloway. It sets out plainly, and clearly, the
principles and objectives that will guide our work. While much of this can be seen as
basic and fundamental for public services, that is exactly why we feel it is so
important to put it in a Strategy document so there is no doubt at all about what we
mean to do.
The delivery of the Strategy is of course even more important - we want there to be a
real improvement in the way people can participate in decisions; the way we engage
with people; and the way that you all contribute to health and social care planning
and delivery. We will ensure that we monitor and report on participation and
engagement activities so that we can ensure they are taking place and are effective.
Working together is the only way ahead and we have been impressed by the
expertise and enthusiasm expressed during the development of the Strategy - by
professionals; Carers; service users; and their friends and families; and by third
sector organisations and individuals across the region - for improving our
arrangements.
This is an exciting time for us all and by tapping into the energy and views of every
person in our region we can shape responsive, effective and efficient health and
social care together for our joint futures.
Councillor Jim Dempster
Penny Halliday
Chair
Vice Chair
D&G IJB
D&G IJB
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Participation & Engagement Strategy v16
Introduction
Good participation and engagement are key to the successful planning and delivery
of integrated health and social care and support. It ensures that decisions are
informed by harnessing the knowledge and expertise of people in our communities.
The IJB is committed to ensuring local people and partner organisations are involved
in the planning, design and development of services through participation and
engagement.
The IJB recognises that our communities are diverse. To be inclusive, and to
engage with members of our communities, the IJB recognises the need for sufficient
time, focus and effort to be given to engagement activities. This will enable the use
of, new and flexible approaches to reach those groups who may not traditionally
readily engage but who have an important, valid and valued contribution to make.
The IJB is responsible for the development and implementation of a number of key
documents including:
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health and social care strategic plan
strategic needs assessment
locality plans
financial plan
equality outcomes framework document
performance management framework
workforce plan
clinical and care governance framework
participation and engagement strategy
risk strategy
statement of consultation
All of these documents must be in place for 1 April 2016.
This is the first participation and engagement strategy of the IJB. It is a 3 year
strategy, 2016-2019, to complement the timing of the strategic commissioning cycle
(which will include the review and revision of the key documents listed above).
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Participation & Engagement Strategy v16
Background
The Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 came into effect on 1 April
2014 requiring health boards and local authorities to integrate the planning and
delivery of, some adult health and social care.
In response to this, an integration scheme, i.e. a document laying out the integration
arrangements for the region, was developed for Dumfries and Galloway. This
scheme establishes the IJB for Dumfries and Galloway. This body is now
responsible for ensuring that health and social care providers and professionals work
together to improve outcomes for people and, by doing this, give them a better
experience of health and social care and support.
There are nine national health and well-being outcomes for health and social care,
please see Appendix 1. These outcomes provide the focus for planning and
delivery with the aim of improving people’s overall experience of health and social
care and support.
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Participation & Engagement Strategy v16
Participation and engagement principles and definitions
The Dumfries and Galloway integration scheme sets out the principles for
participation and engagement. These are:
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work across organisational boundaries
inform, engage and respond to people and organisations as appropriate
recognise the importance of partnership and team working
work in a way that is inclusive and accessible
ensure that engagement and participation is open and transparent
respect people’s privacy, dignity and confidentiality
use modern methods of communication to ensure that the widest range of
individuals and communities can participate
ensure that there are adequate resources allocated to this work, including
staff with the necessary skills and confidence
ensure that engagement and participation work enables local people to
influence the design and delivery of services and programmes
National standards for community engagement
The scheme also states that the IJB has adopted the national standards for
community engagement (see Appendix 2). A supplementary document to the
national standards, ‘The Remote and Rural Advice Note’ is particularly relevant to
our local arrangements given the rurality of Dumfries and Galloway. The advice note
can be viewed via this link http://www.scdc.org.uk/media/resources/what-wedo/national-standards/using_the_standards_in_rural_communities.pdf
Making difficult decisions
‘Making difficult decisions’ is an NHS Dumfries and Galloway standing operating
procedure (SOP) that will be applied in each circumstance where a significant level
of service change is being proposed. This process includes appropriate levels of
consultation with relevant stakeholders.
Other key areas of consideration
The integration scheme also sets out key areas to consider in the participation and
engagement strategy:
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communication routes
hard to reach groups
plain English
training and development
public involvement panel (PIP)
community councils
locality and thematic partnerships
employee engagement
impact assessment
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Participation & Engagement Strategy v16
Definitions
Levels of engagement
 information - providing information to people, communities, staff, groups and
other key stakeholders
 consultation - consulting people in relation to specified options or
 engagement - a more open and equal relationship with key stakeholders
which involves shared decision making and/or action.
Terms commonly used
In addition to above, other terms commonly used in relation to participation and
engagement include:
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participation – people being enabled and empowered to be involved in local
decision making either in relation to themselves or their community. It
involves recognising and harnessing individual’s knowledge and skills to
contribute to personal or local issues
involvement – people and organisations who have an interest in the issue to
be addressed will be actively identified and encouraged to be involved in
participation and engagement activities
partnership – people and organisations come together to share ideas, pursue
a common vision and work together to carry out what is agreed or achieve
more effective outcomes than by working separately. Partnerships will be
nurtured in all settings, for example actively encouraging partnerships
between a patient and their consultant to promote inclusion of the patient in
the decision making process around their care and treatment
co-production – goes a step further than partnership. It is where local people
are central to decision making processes. People are able to influence the
support and services they receive or when local people and organisations can
come together to influence and shape the way services are designed and
delivered. Within the co-production umbrella we find elements of
engagement, participation, choice, control and involvement
communities – There are several different kinds of communities, these include
geographical communities, cultural communities and communities of common
interest
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Participation & Engagement Strategy v16
Development of this strategy
Linkage to other key strategic documents
The development of this strategy has been informed by a range of existing local
plans relating to public involvement, participation and engagement. For example the
strategic plan for health and social care and the single outcome agreement.
A desk based review of participation and engagement strategies in other health and
social care partnerships across Scotland has also been undertaken. Good practice
in other areas has been considered and where appropriate reflected in this strategy.
Participation and engagement strategy development group
In addition, expertise and advice was sought from local partners. A participation and
engagement strategy development group was established with membership from:
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The Scottish Health Council
NHS Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway Council
Third Sector, Dumfries and Galloway
Independent Sector, Dumfries and Galloway
Consultation on this strategy
This strategy was available for consultation via an online survey on the DG-Change
website from 25th January 2016 to 12th February 2016. Stakeholders were also
offered the opportunity to discuss the draft strategy with authors throughout this
period. The views of the equality and diversity working group were sought at their
meeting on 17th February 2016. Feedback received, responses to the comments
and subsequent amendments can be found on the www.dg-change.org.uk webpage.
Impact Assessment
An impact assessment was undertaken, using the agreed toolkit and this identified
12 positive impacts (High - Health and wellbeing; and health inequalities; economic
and social sustainability; Low - age; disability; sex; gender reassignment and
transgender; race; religion or belief; sexual orientation; pregnancy and maternity;
human rights; Environmental Sustainability, Climate Change and Energy
Management) and 1 neutral impact (marriage and civil partnership) and 0 negative
impacts. The summary can be found;
http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=12093
Equality monitoring
An equality monitoring form was made available for completion with the online
consultation survey.
Agreement of this strategy
The participation and engagement strategy development group submitted the final
draft of the strategy to the integration joint board for approval at the 17th March 2016
IJB Meeting.
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Participation & Engagement Strategy v16
Aims and objectives
Aims of participation and engagement
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That the views, experiences and ideas of all our stakeholders will contribute to
the planning and delivery of health and social care and meet the needs and
aspirations of people in Dumfries and Galloway now and in the future
Involve people in developing and shaping the future of health and social care
and support in their communities, working in partnership to inform thinking
about new ways to achieve good outcomes for people
Ensure robust communication across the whole partnership to ensure people
are well informed and aware of opportunities to contribute to the development
of health and social care
Engage with people through a number of different routes to provide a range of
opportunities to express views and opinions
Ensure that decisions are rooted in the expertise and experience of the
people involved in making them
Objectives of this participation and engagement strategy
1. To engage with people, communities and organisations that may have a view
or opinion relating to the planning and delivery of health and social care and
support in Dumfries and Galloway
2. To communicate and engage with people through a number of different
methods to provide a range of opportunities to express views
3. To optimise the resources available for participation and engagement activity
4. Monitor and report on the effectiveness of participation and engagement
activity
Objective 1: To engage with people, communities and organisations that may
have a view or opinion relating to the planning and delivery of health and
social care and support in Dumfries and Galloway.
By following the national standards for community engagement we will identify and
engage with the relevant stakeholders for any individual project or piece of work
The main stakeholders involved in health and social care in our region are identified
in Appendix 3.
Hard to reach groups
We see an important role for the representative bodies of hard to reach groups,
including people with protected characteristics’ minority communities, people
experiencing poverty, those who have mental health conditions and Carers. We will
use established groups and networks such as the strategic planning group, building
healthy communities, advocacy services, health improvement teams, the community
planning tackling poverty co-ordination group and the community planning equality
and diversity working group.
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Participation & Engagement Strategy v16
We also recognise the necessity of addressing the challenges of reaching people
working irregular working patterns, for example farming communities and shift
workers.
Employee engagement
We have a good network of trades unions and staff groups in the statutory bodies
involved in health and social care. Information sessions were and are still being
delivered by the members of locality community and engagement group for the past
year, and to date, these sessions have been delivered in all areas across the region
at all times of the day and evening to accommodate as many staff as possible.
Locality participation and engagement groups
The establishment of locality participation and engagement groups for each of the
four localities provides a strong focus for the participation and engagement of local
people and community groups. Terms of reference for the groups have been
developed (Appendix 4) and a particular point to note is the role of these four locality
groups in providing local representatives for the public involvement panel (PIP).
Thematic partnerships
Thematic partnerships bring together relevant organisations working in specific
specialist areas, for example, alcohol and drugs partnership. These will be helpful
vehicles for bringing together communities of interest across all sectors. Linking with
these across localities will be an important factor.
Public Involvement Panel (PIP)
The PIP has a wider range of interests other than health and social care, but has an
important role in linking with the locality participation and engagement groups. The
PIP will be able to assist in the identification and support of community
representatives. It also offers the opportunity of effective, two-way communication at
a locality and a regional level.
Community councils
Community Councils are the most local tier of elected representation and are
therefore recognised as key organisations that can ascertain and express the views
of the community to public bodies and support community engagement activity.
Objective 2: To communicate and engage with people through a number of
different methods to provide a range of opportunities to express views
The IJB recognises in order to engage effectively with people, communities and
organisations a broad range of ways for people to provide their views and opinions
will be required.
Communication routes
There are a number of different ways for people, communities and organisations to
contribute their views and opinions and some examples of the participation and
engagement methods we will use are set out in Appendix 5. The extensive and
established networks within the third and independents sectors will also be utilised to
facilitate participation and engagement with stakeholders.
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Participation & Engagement Strategy v16
Technological approaches to communication such as the use of social media will be
adopted and utilised. We will develop other new approaches as our activity and
experience grows.
‘Our voice’
‘Our voice’ is a new initiative supported by Scottish Government, Scottish Health
Council, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, The Alliance and the Convention of
Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA). The aim is to develop a framework that allows
everyone to have their view heard, so that Scotland’s health and social services can
be improved at both local and national levels (http://ourvoice.scot/). The IJB
recognises the value of this proposed framework and will work with partners to
ensure it is used effectively.
Objective 3: To optimise the resources available for participation and
engagement activity.
We will ensure that we make the best use of all of the resources available to us to
optimise our levels of communication, engagement and involvement.
VOiCE
Visioning outcomes in community engagement (VOiCE) is an online planning and
evaluation tool designed to assist in the design and delivery of effective community
engagements. It comprises a four step approach under the headings Analyse, Plan,
Do and Review. The IJB is committed to using VOiCE for all participation and
engagement activities. http://www.voicescotland.org.uk/ . It will also provide us with a
database of former, current and future planned activity.
Scottish Health Council Participation Toolkit
A range of examples/suggested methods and approaches for engagement can be found
in the Participation Toolkit published by the Scottish Health Council
http://www.scottishhealthcouncil.org/toolkit.aspx
Training and development
The national standards for community engagement include a standard for
‘improvement’ which focuses on improving staff skills and competency through
training and support. There is also a full programme of development activities for IJB
members which includes participation and engagement.
There are national and local opportunities for the delivery of training on the use of
VOiCE.
Equality monitoring
We will use the equality monitoring form for all our engagement and use that
information to support engagement with any under-represented groups.
Best practice and building on good practice
We will identify and build on good practice e.g. the statement of consultation
contained within the health and social care strategic plan and the public health
community engagement work.
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Participation & Engagement Strategy v16
Participation and engagement often involves voluntary organisations and volunteers.
We will follow best practice in recognising their contribution.
We will use plain language and icons and our key documents will follow editing
advice from ‘Plain English Campaign’. Easy read versions of our key documents will
also be produced e.g. the strategic plan. All our information can be made available
in different formats and languages.
Centre of Excellence
A Centre of Excellence for Community Participation and Engagement is to be
established by Dumfries and Galloway Council, with approaches to be made to local
community planning partners to develop this as a shared facility. This approach is
seen to offer benefits to our communities through an improved and consistent
approach to involvement in decisions that affect them as a result of the leadership,
support and quality assurance provided by the Centre of Excellence. It will also offer
significant opportunities for optimising the resources that partners have to support
participation and engagement.
Objective 4: Monitor and report on the effectiveness of our participation and
engagement activity
Each individual project or activity will be assessed for its effectiveness using VOiCE
and the national standards for community engagement scorecard developed by
Scottish Community Development Centre http://www.dg-change.org.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2015/06/National-Standards-Scorecard.pdf
The IJB performance management framework (PMF) will include performance
measures that relate to participation and engagement activity. The PMF will be
reported to the IJB on a regular basis. This information will also be available to the
public via IJB papers www.dg-change.org.uk
The implementation of this participation and engagement strategy will be monitored
by the IJB. This will complement the equalities mainstreaming report and the annual
report on the strategic plan.
Supporting, monitoring and reviewing this strategy
The overall strategy will be monitored by the IJB as the accountable body by means
of an Annual Report. This will complement the Equalities Mainstreaming Report and
the Annual Report on the Strategic Plan.
The strategy will be reviewed after the second Annual Report and an updated
strategy presented for approval by March 2019.
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Participation & Engagement Strategy v16
Appendix 1 – Nine national health and well-being outcomes
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People are able to look after and improve their own health and wellbeing and
live in good health for longer.
People, including those with disabilities or long term conditions or who are frail
are able to live, as far as reasonably practicable, independently and at home
or in a homely setting in their community.
People who use health and social care services have positive experiences of
those services, and have their dignity respected.
Health and social care services are centred on helping to maintain or improve
the quality of life of people who use those services.
Health and social care services contribute to reducing health inequalities.
People who provide unpaid care are supported to look after their own health
and wellbeing, including to reduce any negative impact of their caring role on
their own health and wellbeing.
People using health and social care services are safe from harm.
People who work in health and social care services feel engaged with the
work they do and are supported to continuously improve the information,
support, care and treatment they provide.
Resources are used effectively and efficiently in the provision of health and
social care services.
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Appendix 2 – National standards for community engagement
National standards for community engagement
INVOLVEMENT: we will identify and involve the people and organisations who have
an interest in the focus of the engagement
SUPPORT: we will identify and overcome any barriers to involvement
PLANNING: we will gather evidence of the needs and available resources and use
this evidence to agree the purpose, scope and timescale of the engagement and the
actions to be taken
METHODS: we will agree and use methods of engagement that are fit for purpose
WORKING TOGETHER: We will agree and use clear procedures that enable the
participants to work with one another effectively and efficiently
SHARING INFORMATION: we will ensure that necessary information is
communicated between the participants
WORKING WITH OTHERS: we will work effectively with others with an interest in
the engagement
IMPROVEMENT: we will develop actively the skills, knowledge and confidence of all
the participants
FEEDBACK: we will feed back the results of the engagement to the wider community
and agencies affected
MONITORING AND EVALUATION: we will monitor and evaluate whether the
engagement achieves its purposes and meets the national standards for community
engagement
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Appendix 3 – Dumfries and Galloway health and social care partnership
stakeholder groups
This list incorporates all statutory consultees for the Health and Social Care Scheme
and Strategic Plan.
Health professionals, including GPs
Dumfries and Galloway Council employees
Dumfries and Galloway Council Elected Members
Dumfries and Galloway NHS Board members
Social care professionals
Staff of the Health Board and Local Authority who are not health professionals or
social care providers
Commercial providers of health care
Non-commercial providers of health care
Commercial providers of social care
Non-commercial providers of social care
Non-commercial providers of social housing
Trades Unions and staff associations
Third Sector, Dumfries and Galloway Interface
Scottish Care Dumfries and Galloway – representative body for care providers
Carers of users of healthcare
Users of healthcare
Users of social care
Carers of users of social care
Interest and support groups for service users/individual health conditions including
learning disability
Looked After Children and Care Leavers’ Champions Board
Dumfries and Galloway Strategic Partnership and Community Planning Executive
Group
Dumfries and Galloway Community Planning and Stakeholder Group (includes MPs,
MSPs, MSYPs, Further/Higher Education, Community Councils and representative
equality groups)
Older People’s Consultative Group
Hard to reach groups
We will work through existing diversity groups, networks and organisations as
appropriate, particularly the local representative groups for age, disability, race,
sexuality and faith and see the Community Planning Equality and Diversity Working
Group as a suitable forum for collective discussions across the Protected
Characteristics.
The Tackling Poverty Co-ordination Group once fully operational, will provide a good
place for discussion with people experiencing poverty and routes into other forums
and people who may otherwise not be able to participate.
Public Involvement Panel
The Dumfries and Galloway Public Involvement Panel (PIP) is in development,
building on the former public partnership forum and will provide a ‘citizen’s panel’ of
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interested residents across the region. A regular newsletter advising of information,
consultation and engagement opportunities is part of this arrangement and will
include health and social care issues.
The PIP will have a steering group, bringing together professional staff from across
statutory partners along with public representatives, sourced from the four locality
participation and engagement groups established for health and social care. This will
provide a forum for co-ordinating future participation and engagement activity and a
two way communication with localities.
Community Councils
Community Councils are the most local tier of elected representation and are
therefore recognised as key organisations that can ascertain and express the views
of the community to public bodies and support community engagement activity.
There are 107 Community Council areas in our region and usually around 90
Community Councils are operational at any one time.
Locality partnerships
There are a number of different locality partnerships that can be tapped into, all
organised around the four areas of Annandale and Eskdale; Nithsdale; Stewartry;
and Wigtownshire. They include:
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4 Community Planning Local Rural Partnerships
4 Council Area Committees
4 Third Sector, Dumfries and Galloway, Locality Forums
4 Participation and Engagement Groups (currently known as Community and
Public Involvement) for the Health and Social Care Integration Area Teams
4 Safe and Healthy/Local Health Partnerships
Independent Sector Health and Social Care fora supporting all care providers
in each locality
Thematic Partnerships
There are a number of different strategic thematic partnerships that are relevant to
health and social care activity. They include:
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Adult Protection Committee
Adult Services Executive Group
Children’s Services Executive Group
Community Justice Partnership
Community Safety Partnership
Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women Partnership
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Appendix 4 – Terms of Reference for locality participation and engagement
groups
Terms of Reference:
Locality Participation & Engagement Group
1.
Name
Locality Participation & Engagement Group
2.
Purpose
Locality Participation & Engagement will be co-ordinated through
using a range of existing local structures, networks and
processes. This will include Health & Well-being Partnerships
(Safe & Healthy Action Partnership in A&E), community groups
and organisations and databases of interested individuals (those
with general interest and those with more specific interests).
A variety of methods will be used to actively engage and promote
participation from people of all ages and abilities and to reach
those who would not normally come forward to share their views
or ideas. These methods will be continuously reviewed to
optimise their effectiveness.
People will be given a choice about how they want to be involved
whether it be purely giving their views or ideas on the services
provided, informing us about their needs or being more actively
involved in co-producing or developing services and activities.
A local group consisting of individuals from across
NHS/Council/Third & Independent Sector and other community
representatives will be set up to ensure co-ordinated activity
promotes choice, accessibility and inclusion. The public group will
also look at influencing and embedding these approaches into
day to day practice throughout the locality
Taking direction from the Locality Management Team the locally
agreed structures will inform locality planning and delivery.
Locality Participation & Engagement Group will ultimately be
accountable to the Locality Management Team.
Locality Management Team
3.
Basis of authority
4.
Reports to
5.
Connectivity
to
other Locality Management Team
Committees / groups
Improvement & Development group
Other Community & Public Involvement groups as necessary
(e.g. Scottish Health Council, User & Carer Involvement)
Chair
Not Prescriptive - May differ in each Locality
6.
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7.
Vice
Nominated As Required – rotational
8.
Members of the Group
9.
In attendance
10.
Quorum
May include, but not exhaustive of:
Locality Manager
Public Health Practitioner
Safe & Health Action Partnership/H&W Group Chair
Social Work Manager / Representative
GP Practice Representative
Third Sector Convener
Independent Sector Representative
Housing
D&G Carers Centre
Nurse Manager / Representative
AHP Manager / Representative
Carers Representatives
Public Representatives
Community Learning Teams
Other members are invited on an ad-hoc basis where appropriate
Secretarial support
Deputies may be nominated to attend prior to the meeting with
the Chair’s approval.
A quorum exists when at least five representatives are present.
11.
Functions
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Ensure the structures and process are in place across the
locality to support engagement and involvement of
communities and individuals
Ensure choice and accessibility and inclusion
Input into Local Delivery Plan
Involve and engage annually with regard to progress on
the Locality Plan
Embed/ develop sustainability around engagement and
involvement in the locality but also with regard to
individual services
Regularly report to the Locality Management Team and
Improvement & Development Group
Establish Short Life Working Groups (SLWGs) to work on
specific pieces of work as necessary
Support & encourage the implementation of best practice
involving community, staff and public consultation,
continuously striving to improve performance.
Ensure that work in this area within the locality meets
national standards for community engagement
Provide up to two public representatives on the Public
Involvement Panel Steering Group to support two way
communication between the locality and strategic level
about participation and engagement activity.
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12.
Inputs
13.
Outputs
14.
Outcomes
15.
Frequency of meetings
and attendance of
members
Date Approved
Review date
Process for monitoring
compliance with terms of
reference
Administrative
arrangements
16.
17.
18.
19.
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Reports as per agreed work plan
Issues escalated.
Delegated / transferred issues from Locality Management
Team, Improvement & Development Groups
 SLWG’s
 Minutes
 Action log
 Exception reports to the Primary & Community Senior
Management
The outcomes for this group will be determined from work
required to support the delivery of the locality implementation
plan.
Formally this meeting will occur quarterly, or as determined by
locality
22/02/2016
6 months period – August 2016
See monitoring table below
Will be provided
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Appendix 5 – Methods of participation and engagement
There are various ways in which participation and engagement is carried out and
some very innovative approaches are being developed, particularly to access hard to
reach groups.
Presentations and public meetings: These can involve large groups and are good for
providing information and education, providing an opportunity for people to question
the people leading the initiative. There is always an ability to break into smaller
groups and to have different models of people recording their feedback and
comments e.g. post it walls, world café etc.
Surveys: These can be undertaken by telephone, online, in writing and face to face.
They can be undertaken with an identified group of people or open for anyone to
contribute. They can be focused on specific options and give statistical responses
and/or they can be open for comment and opinion.
Participatory Appraisal methods / D&G Participatory Appraisal Network: Participatory
Appraisal (PA) is a way of bringing communities and agencies together to
understand local priorities and contribute to good decision making about services.
PA is about ‘taking’ action based on community voices and is different from other
approaches to consultation.
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It builds on local people’s knowledge and experiences, community strengths
and interests as well as identifying needs and concerns..
It is encouraging, creative and lively, giving local people their own voice in
their own way. Unlike questionnaires or surveys, the questions are not
restricted and local people can decide which questions needs to be asked
from their point of view.
The ‘tools’ include:
 Diagrams and pictures to explore community concerns and opportunities
 Mapping and community walks to look at community spaces and assets
 Exploring changes over time - past and future
 Prioritisation methods to help decision makers take actions
The Participatory Appraisal Network: Is a group of local people who have developed
PA skills though training. The network which is open to anyone who wishes to be
involved in engaging with their local communities and willing to learn PA skills aims
to be a resource for D&G communities across the region.
Referendums: Where there is a simple yes/no question then a referendum can be
used – this can be in person voting, in writing, on line or by texting
Workshops and focus groups: This is best for small groups of people where sharing
thoughts and views between people is required. Skilled facilitators maximise the
feedback and contributions and ensure everyone’s voice is heard and everyone gets
a fair opportunity to contribute.
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Draft documents: There are few areas of activity which are entirely new and
therefore during the development of strategies, plans and policies it is likely that
there is a good foundation of material to produce an early version and then invite
comments and amendments to it. This allows people to get an idea about the subject
matter and have time to consider the proposals before commenting.
Feedback forms: This is perhaps the simplest method of finding out how people have
experienced a service or an event. It is instant and easy to analyse. Use of icons and
images helps make the forms accessible.
Forums/user groups: These are established networks or groups of people who have
a shared experience and involvement in an issue or service.
Information stands, displays and stalls at events: Organising or attending events
where the target audience will be in attendance is an efficient and effective way of
getting contact and raising awareness.
Employee engagement routes: Individual partners have established information,
consultation and engagement routes for their employees including:
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staff suggestion schemes (e.g. DGC - ‘Clever Cogs’)
staff focus groups
employee surveys
guidance about involvement in service reviews and policy development and
review
team meetings
information bulletins (e.g. DGC – ‘Quickfacts’ and all user emails)
staff newsletters (e.g. DGC – Staff News)
internal websites (e.g. DGC – ‘Connect’)
Personal testimonies: This is where people share their experience or information in a
story format – it can be written, performed, filmed or posted online.
Creative and artistic interpretations: There are now many examples of where poetry,
film, visual art, story-telling, song-writing and performing, dance and theatre can be
used to elicit people’s views and experiences. This is particularly useful for
challenging life experiences and where language is a barrier to engagement.
Expertise, for example through Writers and Artists in Residence, is essential for
these approaches.
Impact Assessment: The IJB will use the shared Impact Assessment Toolkit
developed by Dumfries and Galloway Council and NHS Dumfries and Galloway. It
incorporates the statutory requirements for equalities and environmental impact
assessment as well as local priorities including poverty, physical, social and
economic sustainability.
The Guidance associated with the IA Toolkit requires relevant stakeholders to be
invited to participate on each occasion, the results to be publicly available on the
website and reported to the IJB or relevant decision-making group so they inform the
final decision about the policy/strategy/plan.
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If you would like some help understanding this or need it in
another format or language please contact 030 33 33 3000
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