Practice 2.1 Involve those who use services

Examples of notable practice:

User reference panels - CSCI

The Commission for Social Care Inspection aim to develop better communications with and greater involvement of service users through a new User Involvement Strategy and User Reference Panel set up in 2005.

User reference panels - MHAC

In 2005 the Mental Health Act Commission (MHAC) set up a Service User Reference Panel, which is made up of people with direct recent (or current) experience of detention under the Mental Health Act, in a range of settings including medium and high secure hospitals. This is the first time that people who are currently detained under the Mental Health Act have been invited and supported to contribute to a monitoring body’s work in this way. The MHAC is involving members of the panel and other service users in its work in a number of ways, including recruitment of Commissioners (“inspectors”) with lived experience of services.

Involving service users

Inspecting for Better Lives is the Commission for Social Care Inspection’s (CSCI) programme to modernise the regulation of social care services, commits CSCI to involve users of services when inspecting services.
www.csci.org.uk/publications/consultations/ibl_consultation.htm (opens new window)