Listening to the public
Putting People First customer reference groups and engagement events
Northumberland Care Trust have established a number of customer reference groups with the aim of utilising the experience of people using our services.
These county wide groups, which also include staff from the transformation team at Northumberland Care Trust, come together to discuss the development of Putting People First, self-directed support and personal budgets.
These groups ensure that ideas and developments are shared at the earliest stages with people using services as well as the professionals involved in delivering care.
Customer reference groups:
- value ill and disabled people for their skills and expertise
- empower ill and disabled people with skills that can make a difference to the changing system
- facilitate meaningful involvement
- facilitate partnership working
- value open relationships, trust, honesty and respect
- provide the support people need to contribute (for example training, time etc)
- provide accessible information, personal assistants where needed
- fulfil a legal duty to consult and involve people.
More public engagement
In addition to the customer reference groups Northumberland Care Trust runs a series of events to raise awareness of the changes to adult care.
Since January 2009 members of the transformation team have visited over 100 public forums and groups to discuss the principles of Putting People First and self-directed support.
See what else is happening by looking at our Have your say and Events pages for more ways to get involved.
