Community Voices is about hearing the views of residents, especially those who are seldom heard, specifically in relation to health.
Did you know that the NHS has a duty to involve local communities when health service changes are being considered? Did you know that local voluntary or community organisations can train for free to get the knowledge and skills to carry out accredited engagement and consultation work locally?
The Community Voices programme supports voluntary and community organisations with training for their staff or volunteers to become an accredited ‘Community Voice’ and then seek the views of the organisation’s members to inform health service changes. Local groups and organisations are really well placed to help residents have a voice.
Once the accredited training has been completed, groups can earn money for their local voluntary or community organisation for each survey completed. Accreditation lasts for 12 months, at which point a refresher course needs to be taken.
The free training to help groups to become Community Voices has 5 elements:
- Understanding how the NHS Works
- Legal and Statutory Duties of the NHS
- Methods and Approaches to Engagement and Consultation
- A Practical Task
- Equalities, safeguarding and review and evaluation
The next virtual Community Voices training runs on the following dates:
- Session 1: Wednesday 20th January 2021
- Session 2: Wednesday 27th January 2021
- Session 3: Wednesday 3rd February 2021
- Session 4: Wednesday 10th March 2021
All sessions are held online through Zoom and last from 10am to 12 noon. Participants need to be able to commit to attending all four sessions.
If you are interested or want more information please email engagement@cvac.org.uk or contact Laura Beesley on 07535 184368.