Health and social care - Planning with People: community engagement and participation guidance

Annex A – Surveys

Introduction

The purpose of the wider review of ‘Planning with People’ was to ensure that the guidance supports a Human Rights-based approach and is aligned to one of the key improvement recommendations of the Independent Review of Adult Social Care in Scotland – to listen to the views of people who use services and actively involve them throughout the process of planning care delivery.

As part of the wider review of ‘Planning with People – Community Engagement and participation guidance’, three consultations were undertaken in 2022.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland – Community Engagement, Citizens’ Panel Survey 9

Citizens’ Panel Survey 9 concerned the general public’s view on health and social care community engagement, and was carried out by Healthcare Improvement Scotland – Community Engagement between January and April 2022.

At the time of the survey, there were 949 Panel members from across all 32 local authority areas. A total of 507 responses (53% response rate) were received, either by post, email or by telephone. A full report on the Citizens’ Panel 9 results was published in July 2022.

Key findings: Public engagement in health and social care service design and change

Awareness about the right to be involved

Only 23% of respondents were aware that they have the right to be involved in the design and delivery of new health or social care services, and to comment on changes to existing services.

Engagement in the last three years

11% have been asked to give feedback or opinion on service design or change in the last three years. On a range of services such as:

• GP services
• Mental Health
• Support and care services

Methods of engagement

• 66% Online surveys
• 28% Postal surveys
• 13% Discussion group or focus group in person

Recommendations:

1. Incorporate the findings of the above survey into the review of ‘Planning with People – Community Engagement and participation guidance’

2. Continue to develop existing strategies for public engagement to encourage all communities to participate in health and social care service design, including:

• raising awareness of the public’s right to get involved in the design and delivery of new health and social care services
• informing the public about proposed changes to health and social care services throughout an engagement process, and
• providing feedback on the results and/or impact of the engagement to those who took part.

3. Healthcare Improvement Scotland – Community Engagement to work collaboratively with partners to develop training opportunities for staff to increase confidence when involving people

Citizen Space ‘Service User’ Survey

A second survey was conducted between August and September 2022 to assess the views of individuals and organisations representing the equality sector as it relates to health and social care service design or change. The consultation was carried out on ‘Citizen Space’, Scottish Government’s recommended platform for consultations.

Scottish Government (SG), Participation Team, carried out a series of engagement sessions to identify potential organisations that represented individuals with protected characteristics. Scotland’s 32 Third Sector Interface organisations and a further 21 charities were invited to participate. 114 responses were received.

Key findings: Public engagement in health and social care service design and change

Awareness about the right to be involved

51% of respondents are aware that they have the right to be involved in the design and delivery of new health or social care services, and to comment on changes to existing services.

Engagement in the last three years

28% have been asked to give feedback or opinion on service design or change in the last three years. On a range of services such as:

• GP services
• Health strategies
• Support and care services

Methods of engagement

• 52% Discussion group or focus group online
• 48% Discussion group or focus group in person
• 41% Online surveys

Experience of engagement

31% said their experience of engagement was very positive or positive.

Positive experiences of engagement were due to:

• Having the opportunity to share one’s views comfortably and privately
• Being actively listened to
• Working with very keen engagers and agents of change

What matters about engagement

70% Knowing that your feedback could lead to changes and inform decision-making

68% Being able to improve local services

65% Having a say on health and social care issues that matter to you

Citizen Space ‘Service Provider’ Survey

A third survey was conducted between August and September 2022 to capture the views of ‘service providers’ (NHS Boards and Integrated Joint Boards) on public engagement and the draft guidance ‘Planning with People’ March 2020. The consultation was carried out on ‘Citizen Space’, Scottish Government’s recommended platform for consultations.

Scottish Government, Participation Team, invited NHS boards and Integrated Joint Boards to take part in the survey to share their views on public engagement and the ‘Planning with People’ document. As a result, 21 responses were received from engagement professionals representing 10 NHS Boards and 11 Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs).

Key findings: Public engagement in health and social care service design and change

Application of ‘Planning with People’

71% of respondents applied ‘Planning with People’ to their organisation’s engagement activities.

Engagement tools

• 67% EQIA
• 62% National Standards for Engagement
• 57% PwP Tools

Methods of engagement

• 70% Online surveys first preferred method of engagement

• 50% Other first preferred method of engagement
• 25% Discussion group or focus group online first preferred method of engagement

Experience of ‘Planning with People’

93% said their experience of using ‘Planning with People’ was very positive or positive.

Positive experiences of ‘Planning with People’ were due to:

• The guidance being friendly to people new to the job
• Constituting a useful distillation of what good engagement means

Areas of improvement

• Provision of case studies
• Better formatting
• Too many links