The Project
The Community Health and Social Wellbeing Project was initiated in September 1999 and covers the Causeway area, including Moyle, Coleraine and Ballymoney Council areas.
The Project is a partnership between the Northern Health and Social Services Board, local community groups and networks. This will help understanding of community needs and of the decision making processes within Health and Social Services, offering groups an opportunity to influence decisions so that they better meet local needs.
It is based on the premise that developing confidence within local communities in articulating their views and shaping the services delivered to them is itself a healthy process which promotes their health and wellbeing.
Objectives for the Project
§ To develop confidence in local groups in order that they may more fully articulate the health and social care concerns of local communities and take increased responsibility for their own health and wellbeing
§ To increase understanding among community groups of the structure and decision making processes within Health and Social Services.
§ To develop a variety of means of collecting and sharing information, both formal and informal, on the needs and health and social wellbeing of local communities
§ To encourage and enable participation of local groups in decision making in health and social wellbeing
§ To develop mechanisms for ensuring that the views and needs of local communities are formally taken into account within decision making processes and that they are informed of the impact of their contribution
§ To produce decisions which can be shown to have taken into account the needs and values of local communities, balanced with the need to develop better quality services within resource constraints
§ To formally review, at regular intervals, the outcomes of the process of communication against the agreed objectives in order to influence future development
§ To ensure that the process is embedded in existing community and statutory structures in order to secure its sustainability and influence in the long term
BELOW: MAP OF THE PROJECT AREA
Values
The process of communication must be:
- Simple - understood by all participants
- Clear - free of bureaucratic jargon
- Inclusive - as many interests as possible represented
- Honest - all parties to make clear their objectives and constraints
- Open - all parties to be able to see how their views are dealt with
- Respectful - all parties are equally valued
- Equitable - local views and needs to be met as far as possible whilst set against the overall goal of improving the health and social well being of the population as a whole.
The outcomes must deliver quality in terms of:
- Effectiveness in improving health and social well being
- Appropriateness in responding to community needs
The partners
§ The Northern Health and Social Services Board (NHSSB) is required by
Government to support local communities to identify the health and social
concerns of greatest importance to them and help them devise and implement
solutions, to build a participative approach and to establish local legitimacy
for Board priorities and purchasing intentions. It will bring to the
partnership its knowledge, experience and commitment.
§ The Northern Health and Social Services Council (NHSSC) represents the interests of patients and other service users and can bring such experience and knowledge to the Partnership.
§ The Rural Community Network and Community Development and Health Network are regional networks and are well placed to bring skills in networking and consultation as well as community development experience within the Northern Board's area, especially within the mainly rural environment of the north coast area.
§ Oakleaf and North Antrim Community Networks between them cover the entire Causeway area. Each have an extensive membership including most community groups and bring similar skills and experience as the regional networks within a local context.
The Partnership works closely with the Causeway Health and Social Services Trust and a wide range of agencies with an interest in health and social wellbeing.
To meet the project objectives, we propose developing the following:
Reference Group
A reference group of community
development workers/activists will be established as a means of providing
regular feedback to the project. This mechanism, together with regular
internal review, will provide an important means of monitoring the progress
and impact of the project.
Consultative Group
A range of organisations and
individuals will be identified to consult on various aspects of the project.
This may take a range of formats: group meetings, workshops, individual
meetings organised by the support worker. The function of the group will be
to:
§ Share relevant knowledge and experience with the Partners
§ Inform the development of the programme
§ Provide quantitative and qualitative information
§ Promote inter agency collaboration
'Health' Network
This will bring interested people and organisations together to promote inter-connecting and to ensure sustainable links are developed with providers, purchasers and users of health and social care services. It will be an opportunity to share ideas, to learn about other projects and to increase the understanding of the structure and decision making processes within Health and Social Services.
 |
|
Group
at launch of Project
|
 |
|
Workshop
at Project lauch
|
For
more information contact:
Community Support/Consultation Officer
Old School House
Mill Street
Cushendall
BT44 0RR
Tel: 028 21772100
Fax: 028 21772129
'Opening the Door'….
discover how you can take part in local decisions affecting your health and
social wellbeing