Feedback Fortnight – 14-25th July
Some ideas for running a feedback session
Here are just a few ideas/ prompts/ tips for running a session to gather
feedback from the people who use your service. You know the group you
are meeting with and will have an idea what might work for them.
It might be as simple as handing out the questionnaires and being on
hand in case anyone has any questions. However, you may want to hold
a workshop which will give people the chance to talk together as a group
about their experiences.
Just use the bits that work for you!
We can provide refreshments and/or post it notes/ flipchart
paper/ pens or a ballot box and hard copies of the questionnaire.
Just get in touch with Anna at [email protected] or 029 2022 2000
Or if you would like one of us to come along please just get in
touch
1
Feedback Fortnight – 14-25th July
Some ideas for running a feedback session
Starting things off
Will everyone know each other?
If not, it’s worth doing some introductions or even an icebreaker.
A simple icebreaker:
Get people to talk to the person next to them, in pairs. You may need to
take part if there is an uneven number. Get them to find out their name
and some other information about them for example, what they had for
breakfast. Then ask people to report back to the group what they found
out.
Setting ground rules/ an agreement for the session
This can be helpful if you anticipate that one or two individuals might
dominate the session or that there may be any tensions within the group.
It might also be useful as some of the questions may raise sensitive or
personal experiences for some people. It’s best for the group to set these
together so that they have ownership of them.
Share with people what it’s all about. Setting the scene/ the
background:
The health board, the council, charities, police, housing and many other
are all working together to try and improve mental health services. They
are setting their priorities for the coming year and want to know how
things are working for you.
A series of events, are being held in each Health Board area in Wales, to
discuss priorities for mental health service planning. There will need to be
a report which will be sent to Welsh Government, as part of their
monitoring of the Together for Mental Health strategy (for more
information see www.cavamh.org.uk/feedback-fortnight)
We need to hear what your experiences are, good and bad, and what you
think the priorities are.
All Feedback will be anonymous!
Following Feedback Fortnight a panel event will be held in August, where
service users and carers can ask mental health professionals questions
about the service and discuss their priorities for the next year. We will
keep you uptodate.
2
Feedback Fortnight – 14-25th July
Some ideas for running a feedback session
The key questions
1. Please tell us what services you or someone you support
currently use?
2. How well do these services meet your needs? (What’s Good?)
3. If they don't meet your needs, why? (What’s Bad?)
4. What additional help do you need?
5. What else you would like to say to service providers
Some prompts to help people think about the services they use:
Some of the services that people may have been in contact with or may
currently be accessing (or wish they could access) - Community Mental
Health Teams, Crisis Teams, In-patient Services, Talking
Therapies, Care & Treatment Plans, Day/Community Services,
GP's Services, Social Work/Adult Services, Accommodation,
Police, Employment, Education, Prison, Probation
Giving everyone an equal chance
There will always be some people who are comfortable speaking up in a
group and some people who prefer to talk one to one. It’s good to
provide an opportunity for everyone to have a chance to speak.
Writing on post-it notes –hand out post-it notes at the beginning of the
session for people to either stick on a flipchart sheet on the wall or put
them in a ballot box. This gives people the chance to write things down
anonymously
Talking in pairs – people often feel more comfortable talking in pairs or
small groups. Give each pair a piece of flipchart paper in order to record
their thoughts and experiences.
A small group exercise:
Paper carousel – (you need a minimum of 6 people to use this method)
Split the group into three. Give each group a piece of flipchart with one
of the key questions at the top (questions 2/3/4 will work best). Give
3
Feedback Fortnight – 14-25th July
Some ideas for running a feedback session
each group five minutes to write down their ideas on their sheet, then
move the pieces of paper round. Give each group another five minutes to
read the ideas already on the sheet, ticking the ones they agree with.
Then ask them to add their own ideas. Continue the carousel by moving
the sheets round so that every group has seen each question and has had
the chance to add their ideas to each list.
Take a break
Most people find it difficult to concentrate for longer than about 40
minutes. If it looks like your session will be longer than this it’s probably
best to think about having a break. It’s worth checking with the group
when the best time for this is.
Let people know what will happen next?
All feedback will be collected together by the end of July. Please send any
completed questionnaires/ typed up flipcharts etc to Sefyll by Friday 1st
August. We will then collate these responses into a report. We aim to
pick out the priorities.
A panel event will be held towards the end of August, which will be open
to service users and carers. The panel will be made up of managers from
the Health Board, Local Authority and 3rd Sector. The event will be an
opportunity to ask questions and discuss priorities for the coming year.
4