Community Champions
Healthwatch Sefton is all about building relationships with communities and to help us to do this we are continuing to develop two Community Champion Networks. These networks are made up of organisations and centres who work with local communities. Through the community champions networks, we are able to bring together the voices of many groups and the expertise of local organisations in engaging with local residents. The Community Champions raise awareness of our goals and help local residents to have their say in the design and delivery of health and social care services. Local people are supported and encouraged to share their experiences with us, by filling out one of our ‘Share your experience’ forms and posting it into one of the Healthwatch Sefton Community Champion experience boxes which can be found in each centre/organisation.
Background
The community champion network was an idea that began to form under Sefton Link and has been developed and fully realised by Healthwatch Sefton. There are two networks; one covering South & Central Sefton and another for Southport & Formby. The organisations and groups who are members of the networks play a vital role in the health and wellbeing of local people. They are well placed to support and promote Healthwatch Sefton’s goal of building relationships with communities and collecting their experiences of local health and social care services. The networks meet regularly to share information and best practice.
These unique Community Champion Networks were recognised by Healthwatch England in their annual report.
Healthwatch Sefton have shared good practice around these networks with other local Healthwatch areas who are looking to develop their own community champion networks.
Click here to see who our Community Champions are and where they are based.
National Recognition from Healthwatch England
Healthwatch England, the national body that supports the Healthwatch network across England, published their first annual report in October 2013. The report provided an overview of the current state of health and social care in England and outlines Healthwatch’s activity over the first 12 months. The annual report also provided examples of good practice amongst local Healthwatch organisations, and we’re pleased to say Healthwatch Sefton and the work of the Community Champions was one of the eleven areas highlighted in the report.
Click here to read the full AGM report from Healthwatch England.
