How we involve and consult Service Users
Service users are at the heart of everything we do at Southdown. We believe that their views, knowledge and experience should have a real influence on the decisions that we make as an organisation.
We want to encourage service users to be involved with Southdown at levels that suit them. We need feedback and we realise that there isn’t just one way to gain it, so we provide a range of opportunities to match people’s abilities, interests and the time commitment they wish or are able to offer. To help us achieve this we develop and publish an annual Service User Involvement Strategy.
The ways in which we involve tenants and service users include:
Policy Review Groups
Small, informal groups held regionally which are actively involved in reviewing organisational policy, policies specific to certain services (such as Homeworks) and service user handbooks. For further details, please click here to visit our Policy Review Groups web page.
Recruitment Forums
Informal regional meetings which use workshops and discussion to involve service users in talking about how to recruit the most suitable staff, writing questions for interview and identifying service users who can help in parts of the interview process. For further details, please click here to visit our Helping recruit and train staff web page.
Southdowners
Regional meetings for service users from the Learning Disability division which discuss various topical issues as well as issues relating to support and the running of the organisation. For further details, please click here to visit our Southdowners web page.
New service review meetings
Service users in the Learning Disability Division are consulted after they have settled in to their new home about how the move went, the accommodation and the support that they receive.
SHAring
A quarterly publication which provides general information, specific information about Southdown’s services, news and creative writing and artwork from service users. For further details, please click here to visit our SHAring web page.
SUI meetings
Quarterly meetings with front-line staff to ensure to update on current priorities and share good practice between teams.
Newsletters
Quarterly newsletters aimed towards staff providing updates on current work of Service User Involvement team.
Governance
Annual meetings are held where service users can meet with members of the board. Reports from the Policy Group meetings are also presented to the Quality Assurance and Housing Committees.
Annual Service User Forums
An opportunity for service users to meet with members of the Executive Committee and the main Board to talk about Southdown’s Business Plan, ask questions, give feedback and hear about the impact that service users are having on the running of the organisation and service delivery.
Learning Disability Recruitment statements
All services are audited annually to get a picture of the level of involvement of service users in Learning Disability services and to develop an annual action plan for further development.
Satisfaction survey
All service users are given opportunity to complete annual satisfaction survey. Opportunities are also provided to encourage family members and stakeholders to have an input in cases where a service users disability would make it difficult for meaningful consultation.
Quality consultants – SP reviews
A team of service users who have received training in conducting reviews of Supporting People funded services. For further details, please click here to visit our Quality Consultants web page.
New service launches
Consultations with service users around the impact of new services and how we address any concerns. (eg Support for Housing and Vocational services). Service users are also involved in reviewing new services.
Training
Service users are involved in induction training in both Learning Disability and Housing Support Divisions.
SUN Core Group meetings
Bi-monthly meetings involving customers of Supporting People services in West Sussex in the ongoing work of Supporting People.
SUN Roadshows
Regional forums, specific to different client groups, which aim to involve a broad representation of customers in West Sussex Supporting People’s Strategic Review.
Other activities include social events, art exhibitions and the annual garden challenge.
We have a dedicated internal Service User Involvement Team that includes two Co-ordinators and a worker.
Please click here to Contact us for further information.