Stakeholder Involvement
Introduction
The Department’s commitment to public involvement is rooted in the 20-year
strategy A Healthier Future (PDF 673 KB), which was published in 2005. This
document sets out the long term aim and objectives for the health and social care system in Northern
Ireland. It identifies ‘what and how’ the system would have to deliver over the longer term. This
has clear implications for the structures and processes that are needed to deliver the outcomes envisaged.
These changes can only be achieved through public involvement. Effective
public involvement can help to create a better understanding of the complexities involved in managing
health and social care services. This in turn can lead to increased confidence and to services
being used more effectively.
Involvement with stakeholders is therefore viewed by the DHSSPS as a
key aspect of reform and modernisation. Consequently, a major programme of stakeholder involvement
is being developed on the planned changes for health and social care and what this means for communities
and individuals. A key aspect of the programme is the establishment of a Health and Social Care
stakeholder involvement network which will determine a plan of engagement to influence the future strategic
direction, including the Priorities for Action (PFA) (PDF 125 KB) process.
In this context, stakeholder involvement is different to personal and
public involvement; it refers to the involvement of key individuals and organisations in strategic decisions
about health and social care at regional level, for example in influencing priorities. This is
different to personal and public involvement which refers to the involvement of individual patients/clients
with health professionals in making decisions about their own individual care. The latter is also
essential and should be undertaken at local level where services are delivered.
Workshop 29 June 2007
An initial workshop was held in the Island Civic Centre, Lisburn, on
29 June 2007 and involved a wide range of stakeholders from statutory, community and voluntary sectors.
The aim of the workshop was:
To discuss the concept of creating a regional network of stakeholder
groups which would work to improve health and wellbeing in Northern Ireland. This would then be
viewed as a way of accelerating the exchange of knowledge, ideas and information to influence strategic
planning in health and social care and the development of regional policy and priorities.
View the report from the Stakeholder Involvement Workshop
(PDF 91 KB).
Website
One element of discussion at the workshop focused on the importance
of an e-network to promote good communication, allow for better sharing of best practice, and facilitate
exchange of information between users, carers and organisations. A number of focus groups were held
with stakeholders to elicit views and ideas. The website www.engage.hscni.net
was
subsequently developed and launched. A discussion forum allows DHSSPS to raise questions on key areas
for change, and to create a dialogue with the public, with staff and with all users of health and social
care. Further information on this site can be obtained from:
was
subsequently developed and launched. A discussion forum allows DHSSPS to raise questions on key areas
for change, and to create a dialogue with the public, with staff and with all users of health and social
care. Further information on this site can be obtained from:Stakeholder Involvement Framework
Another issue arising from the stakeholder involvement workshop on 29
June 2007 was the need to produce a clear direction for stakeholder involvement in Northern Ireland.
Work is now underway to develop a Stakeholder Involvement Framework. This document sets
out a proposed framework for creating a stronger stakeholder involvement voice in the development of
health and social care in Northern Ireland.
Workshop 21 November 2007
A further workshop on stakeholder involvement was held on 21 November
2007 in the Dunadry Hotel, Templepatrick.
The workshop focused on two key outcomes:
- to quality assure and comment on the final draft of the Stakeholder Involvement Framework document;
- to provide a formal response to Programme for
Government and consider priorities for 2009/10 – this was explored through
the theme of independent living.
Conference 22 April 2008
A stakeholder involvement conference entitled ‘Engage, Energise, Empower’
was held on 22 April 2008 at the Dunadry Hotel, Templepatrick.
The conference facilitated the sharing of stakeholder involvement information
and best practice.
Professor Jonathan Tritter, Special Advisor to the NHS Centre for Involvement
and Research Professor in Patient and Public Involvement, explored definitions of involvement and engagement
and looked at the benefits and potential difficulties of such activities.
