Having A Voice Service user involvement Tom Mclean – Service Development Manager Tony Willis – Constitutional Adviser

Today’s session Introductions - Tom and Tony Introductions - Tom and Tony Having A Voice Having A Voice Service user involvement at HAV-DVD Service user involvement at HAV-DVD Any questions or comments? Any questions or comments? Contact details and links Contact details and links

What is Having A Voice? Having A Voice is a voluntary sector mental health organisation based in East Manchester. Having A Voice is a voluntary sector mental health organisation based in East Manchester. It is open to anyone aged 18 and over, in Manchester and surrounding areas. It is open to anyone aged 18 and over, in Manchester and surrounding areas. People reach HAV in a number of ways – through word of mouth, self-referral or sign- posting by services. People reach HAV in a number of ways – through word of mouth, self-referral or sign- posting by services.

What is Having A Voice? Having A Voice is a membership organisation managed by users, or ex-users of mental health services. Having A Voice is a membership organisation managed by users, or ex-users of mental health services. Currently, 5 staff are employed, most of whom are users or ex-users of services. Currently, 5 staff are employed, most of whom are users or ex-users of services. HAV is an independent project, and is funded through a number of different grants. HAV is an independent project, and is funded through a number of different grants. HAV has been running for 17 years. HAV has been running for 17 years.

HAV, recovery and social inclusion – what we do: A drop-in (peer support) A drop-in (peer support) 1:1 counselling 1:1 counselling recovery courses (workshops) recovery courses (workshops) Opportunities – involvement – volunteering etc… Opportunities – involvement – volunteering etc… Media project – produce films to raise awareness Media project – produce films to raise awareness Advice (welfare rights etc) Advice (welfare rights etc) Encourage – support… self-advocacy Encourage – support… self-advocacy Training to outside agencies – students etc… Training to outside agencies – students etc… Social activities Social activities

What sort of user involvement? User led, User run User led, User run Therefore: 'user-centred user involvement' as opposed to 'management-centred user involvement‘ Therefore: 'user-centred user involvement' as opposed to 'management-centred user involvement‘ Management Committee come from membership Management Committee come from membership Members are or have been users of mental health services Members are or have been users of mental health services

Involvement in what? As workers As workers As members As members As management committee As management committee As volunteers As volunteers As representatives e.g. LIT As representatives e.g. LIT Delivering/facilitating services Delivering/facilitating services

As workers: Most workers are or have been service users Most workers are or have been service users Sometimes this has been a requirement of the job’s ‘person spec’ Sometimes this has been a requirement of the job’s ‘person spec’ Strong and meaningful involvement through employment Strong and meaningful involvement through employment

As members Members have a stake in the organisation Members have a stake in the organisation Members can put themselves forward for Management Committee Members can put themselves forward for Management Committee Members can vote at AGM and other meetings Members can vote at AGM and other meetings

As management committee Management Committee is the governing body of HAV Management Committee is the governing body of HAV They decide priorities and direction of HAV They decide priorities and direction of HAV They employ paid workers to carry out certain functions They employ paid workers to carry out certain functions

As volunteers Volunteers important to HAV: formal and informal Volunteers important to HAV: formal and informal Volunteers drawn from membership Volunteers drawn from membership Involved in service delivery e.g. recovery workshops, media project, counselling service Involved in service delivery e.g. recovery workshops, media project, counselling service Informal as peer support – central to HAV Informal as peer support – central to HAV

As representatives During consultations e.g.: Design of adult mental health directory Design of adult mental health directory NSF Local Implementation Team (LIT) NSF Local Implementation Team (LIT) Mental health forums Mental health forums

Benefits of involvement: Setting own objectives and priorities Setting own objectives and priorities Tackling stigma and discrimination Tackling stigma and discrimination Social inclusion Social inclusion Recovery Recovery Knowledge and skills gained Knowledge and skills gained Confidence and self-esteem Confidence and self-esteem

So what does this really mean? Short film followed by Any questions or comments? Tony or Tom

Contact details Having A Voice The Venture Centre 491 Mill street Manchester M11 2AD