Involving people who Involving people who use servicesuse services

Rocket science?Rocket science?

What layers of involvement?What layers of involvement?

Individual – people being involved in Individual – people being involved in decisions which affect their own livesdecisions which affect their own lives

Organisational – people who use services Organisational – people who use services having an influence over the service they having an influence over the service they useuse

Strategic – influencing legislation, policy Strategic – influencing legislation, policy and service design and development and service design and development across services, at the highest levels across services, at the highest levels

People who use services…People who use services… Require those services for a reasonRequire those services for a reason Are more than their need for a serviceAre more than their need for a service Are not simply defined by their needsAre not simply defined by their needs But usually continue to have those needs But usually continue to have those needs

while participatingwhile participating

Working holisticallyWorking holistically

Recognising the real and valuable Recognising the real and valuable contribution that can come from genuinely contribution that can come from genuinely involving the people who use servicesinvolving the people who use services

Recognising and valuing and working with Recognising and valuing and working with the differences of all of the unique the differences of all of the unique individuals who are involvedindividuals who are involved

What’s the point?What’s the point?

Benefit to the system and service users Benefit to the system and service users generally by becoming more considered, generally by becoming more considered, more person-centred, more responsive more person-centred, more responsive and more effectiveand more effective

Benefit to the people who are involved – Benefit to the people who are involved – as part of recovery, redress, development as part of recovery, redress, development and sometimes (gulp) therapyand sometimes (gulp) therapy

Tokenism and trapsTokenism and traps Pick people who “fit in”Pick people who “fit in” Don’t tell them who holds the powerDon’t tell them who holds the power Ignore their organisations and facilitate Ignore their organisations and facilitate

tame and “domestic” userstame and “domestic” users Avoid democracy and accountabilityAvoid democracy and accountability TimingTiming DurationDuration Location Location

People First People First (Scotland)(Scotland)

The national independent self-The national independent self-advocacy organisation of people advocacy organisation of people

with learning difficulties in with learning difficulties in Scotland.Scotland.

People First People First (Scotland)(Scotland)

Became a Became a company in company in 19891989

Over 80 People Over 80 People First groups from First groups from the Borders up the Borders up to the islands.to the islands.

About 950 About 950 membersmembers

How we run People FirstHow we run People First

Run by us, the Run by us, the membersmembers

Board of DirectorsBoard of Directors Staffing Committee Staffing Committee Chair’s CommitteeChair’s Committee ElectionsElections

Local GroupsLocal Groups

What local groups doWhat local groups do Women’s groupsWomen’s groups Area-wide groupsArea-wide groups Sit on local planning bodies and strategic groupsSit on local planning bodies and strategic groups

National WorkNational Work

We represent People We represent People First (Scotland) on:First (Scotland) on:

SAYIG and working groupsSAYIG and working groups Multi-agency Inspection Multi-agency Inspection

Steering GroupSteering Group QISQIS Care Commission User and Care Commission User and

Carer groupCarer group Cross-party Learning Cross-party Learning

Disability group Disability group Scottish Parenting NetworkScottish Parenting Network User and Carer Panel of 21User and Carer Panel of 21stst

Century Social Work ReviewCentury Social Work Review SIAA BoardSIAA Board Mental Health Act Mental Health Act

Implementation groupImplementation group

National workNational work

Conferences Conferences ConsultationsConsultations TrainingTraining

International workInternational work

Conferences:Conferences: CanadaCanada AlaskaAlaska LondonLondon

Visits:Visits: WisconsinWisconsin IrelandIreland GermanyGermany

People First Europe conference, Edinburgh 2005People First Europe conference, Edinburgh 2005

International work

Why People First is importantWhy People First is important

Change on 3 levels:Change on 3 levels: IndividualsIndividuals The way we are treated The way we are treated

and seen by othersand seen by others Laws and policiesLaws and policies