The role of Healthwatch England

1. The role of Healthwatch England

2. Championing people’s voices The White Paper Liberating the NHS says: “We will strengthen the collective voice of patients and the public through arrangements led by local authorities, and at national level, through a powerful new consumer champion, Healthwatch England, located in the Care Quality Commission.”

3. Background • Healthwatch - the consumer champion for people who use services • Health and Social Care Act 2012: • CQC to establish Healthwatch England as statutory committee • Department of Health leading work to establish local Healthwatch organisations • Local Healthwatch launching in April 2013 • Local authorities commission local Healthwatch organisations • CQC, DH and LGA working together to implement the Healthwatch • system

4. Roles of CQC and Healthwatch • Healthwatch England • Gathers information, reports on and raises issues nationally on all health and social care – providers and commissioning • Local Healthwatch • Works with local people to gather views and experiences to inform local and national services • CQC • Inspects, monitors and reports on essential standards • Uses information, including people’s views, to inform and prioritise its regulatory activity • Works with services that deliver registered activities

5. Be a function of CQC Have a distinct identity A statutory committee Speak with an unedited voice Healthwatch England will…

6. Healthwatch England Chair • Healthwatch England chair expected – June • Secretary of State appointment • Will be a CQC board member • Two/three days per week role

7. Healthwatch England Committee • Public recruitment will begin in June/July • A statutory committee of CQC with a strategic role • DH consulted on regulations on committee membership • CQC will appoint on basis of transparent criteria: • Up to 12 members • Ensuring spread of interests • Public recruitment for Healthwatch England posts begins – July

8. Healthwatch EnglandDraft outline structure – 1 October 2012 Chair (& CQC Commissioner)(2/3 days per week) 1 April 2012 Leeds/London HWE Committee x 12 members (2/3 days per month) Personal Assistant (Chair & Director) x 1 Leeds CQC Support Functions Legal and Governance Director x 1 Leeds/London Business and Programme Manager x 1 Leeds Committee Secretary x 1 Leeds Intelligence Comms Local Support Policy Intelligence Communications HWE Liaison Manager x 1 Home-based Policy Manager x 1 Leeds Intelligence Manager x 1 Leeds Communications Manager x 1 Leeds HR Ops & People Dev IT HWE Liaison Leads x 8 Home-based Policy Officer x 2 Leeds Senior Analyst x 2 Leeds Media Officer x 1 Leeds Public Affairs Officer x 1 Leeds Corporate Facilities & Accommodation Infrastructure HWE Liaison Support x 1 Home-based Policy Assistant x 1 Leeds Analyst x 2 Leeds Publishing Officer x 1 Leeds National Customer Service Centre Y:\CQC_Records\PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS\Future of Care Programme\Healthwatch\Structure and Staffing\20120606 HWE structure with amended role titles

9. Healthwatch England functions • Operating model must support delivery of Healthwatch England functions: • leadership and support to local Healthwatch • escalate local Healthwatch concerns to CQC • advise Secretary of State, NHS Commissioning Board, Monitor and local authorities • make an annual report to Parliament

10. Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch • Healthwatch England • Local Healthwatch The local voice - for individuals, community groups, vol orgs Empowerment, support and leadership, regional presence Local views on commissioning on Health and Wellbeing Boards Local data informs national view on commissioning and providers Gather local info on views and experiences from all sources Local info reflected in dealings with SofS, NHSCB, Monitor etc Support through tools and methodologies, CQC intelligence Enter and view, hold providers to account, report and recommend Regional presence in support Signpost and info, access and choice NHS complaints advocacy For LAs to determine

11. Tools and guidance • Quality framework for local Healthwatch organisations, developed in partnership – May onwards • Healthwatch England brand toolkit shared with local authorities – July • Healthwatch England basic website – July

12. Healthwatch information repository • Healthwatch information system and repository – first phase – October • Working with stakeholders the specification has been developed and agreed • This system enables local Healthwatch organisations to share local intelligence with Healthwatch England and each other • CQC will also have access • There is no intention for public access to this system

13. Healthwatch England: core activities • Support to local Healthwatch – • regional networks • advice, tools and guidance, training • Healthwatch information system and repository sharing intelligence and best practice • conduit between local voice and Healthwatch England • supporting relationships with local CQC operations staff

14. Enquiries – who will handle these? • As soon as the Chair is announced it is envisaged that calls about Healthwatch will be received and handled by the interim team • The HWE website will have an enquiry function - this is due to go live in July • In the longer term NCSC will have a dedicated team to deal with calls – this will function in a similar way to the current enquiry team • Information will be screened for safeguarding issues, triaged and directed on • Some will come to CQC where appropriate and relevant

15. Healthwatch interim team • Amanda Hutchinson – Head of future of care and Healthwatch England lead • Ian Forsyth – Project Manager • Graham Booth – Intelligence Manger • Susan Robinson – Regional Manager • Cate Quinn – Policy Manager • Sara Cain – Senior Communications Officer • Maulin Fisher – Business Coordinator

16. Questions • Questions?