The Wellbeing Approach to Involvement & Personalisation

1. The Wellbeing Approach to Involvement & Personalisation Elina Stamou & Angela Newton Service User Involvement Directorate

2. Overview • Personalisation: key principles • Wellbeing Approach to Involvement • what it is • what it achieves • how • applications in personalisation context • what do service users think about it?

3. Personalisation – Key Principles • everyone can lead positive lives • experts by experience in focus • choice and control in wellbeing journey • person centred approach • independent living • self directed support & varied portfolio of services • co-production & cultural change

4. Wellbeing Approach to Involvement What It Is • user led whole systems method & programme • supports service users’ journey to wellbeing • training, volunteering opportunities & employment • person centred support & peer support • good practice in service user involvement • developed by service users & Together in 2004 • in service users words: “[it is] what sets Together apart from other organisations, Together really do it in a meaningful way”. 

5. Wellbeing Approach to Involvement What It Achieves • Service Users • self-confidence, inspiration, motivation, aspirations, skills, choice & control to lead own lives and wellbeing journey • experience in meaningful roles • improved relationships, social life, social networks • peer support and positive peer role models • reduced dependence on mental health services

6. Wellbeing Approach to Involvement What It Achieves • Service Users • influence policy and practice, and lead the personalisation agenda: • outreach for awareness & understanding • influence & co-production in pilots • design, delivery, evaluation of services • increase self directed support take up • improves wellbeing

7. Wellbeing Approach to Involvement What It Achieves • Community • effective user involvement, healthy dialogue and partnership working → wider/meaningful engagement → relevant, effective services → healthy communities • tailored to individual needs, removes barriers & engages disengaged people → facilitates social inclusion → happy citizens of all backgrounds • supports personalisation agenda • value for money & broader economic benefits

8. Wellbeing Approach to InvolvementHow It Is Achieved • WAI Principles • everyone with experience of mental distress can lead positive lives • respecting and working with people as people, not their diagnosis • talking about mental health Vs illness • focusing on strengths and potential • lived experience leads the wellbeing journey • equality and diversity

9. Wellbeing Approach to InvolvementHow It Is Achieved • WAI Programme • developed organically by service users & Together • user led, flexible & responsive to service users needs: choose options, pace & direction of journey • meaningful engagement in responsible roles • a personalisation model service in itself • peer support & co-production: working together, mutual respect/benefits/accountability, users lead. • 2000 service users since 2005

10. What Do Service Users Think? • People active in personalisation through WAI • “I’ve been using services since I was 18, then moved into Together’s supported accommodation. I received training and started volunteering. Working alongside people in similar situations made me feel less alone. Being involved with Together has helped me gain the confidence to move on with my life and look forward rather than backwards. • I now live in my own flat. I receive direct payments and choose to stay with SUID & Together”.

11. What Do Service Users Think? • “After completing the leadership training and some other courses I went on to represent service users at Together’s National Steering Group, which directly influences how the organisation operates [including in relation to personalisation]. • It gave me purpose and has helped me regain my confidence. I feel like it’s OK to be exactly who you are here so you don’t have to wear a mask. I’ve suggested the programme to a few people from my local area. It’s been great to see them grow through it.”

12. What Do Service Users Think? • “After I left the hospital, following my breakdown, I spent years in hostels. I met some frightening people, others into drugs. I didn’t socialise and so lost contact with things a bit. • Then I found out about Together and four years later I have a great portfolio of training and work experience [including delivering presentations on direct payments and personalisation]. Before, when things went wrong I would hide away, now my motto is ‘get knocked down, get back up again.”

13. Questions & Answers

14. Wellbeing Approach to Involvement In Short • experts by experience in focus & leading • flexibility, range of options, choice and control • confidence, skills and opportunities to influence personalisation policy and practice • person centred support & peer support • inclusive: all backgrounds & experiences • equal partnerships & co-production led by service users • it works!

15. Contact Us! • Angela Newton • Deputy Director, • Service User Involvement Directorate • angela-newton@together-uk.org • 07739 506 583 / 01524 62039 • Elina Stamou • Peer Support Development Manager • 0207 780 7358/075 9096 1353 • elina-stamou@together-uk.org • www.together-uk.org