How you change us

It’s been twelve months since the launch of our service user strategy. In that time it’s helped encourage more of you to have your say and it has helped us improve the services we offer you.

Below is a list of the key achievements you having your say has helped achieve over the last 12 months.

• TWO MST service users recruited to positions on the MST Board.
• THREE new publications produced with a for service users: the Service User Guide, “Have Your Say” Menu of Involvement leaflet and 2008 Annual Report to service users.
• THREE service users recruited to positions in MHP: the ACE Scrutiny Panel, the Diversity Taskforce and the Sustainability Group.
• NINE service users involved in MST’s peer review.
• TEN training sessions for service users were organised, on topics ranging from “Improving Verbal Communication” to “Recruitment and Selection”.
• TWELVE MST Key Performance Indicators have been reviewed by service users.
• FIFTEEN MST policies have been reviewed by service users.
• TWENTY recommendations from the national “Service User Strategy Group” have been agreed and actioned, including a recommendation to develop the MST website for service users.
• THIRTY ONE staff established a network of “Service User Involvement Champions” in June 2008.
• SEVENTY FIVE support staff positions involved service users in their recruitment.
• EIGHTY service users attended a Regional Service User Group meeting.

 

Here's some of the feedback from our service users on how we have involved them over the last year:

 

"It is very useful training for me…(I) gain more experience for my own interviews.”
- Refugee Support service user on recruitment and selection training

"The confidence you get when working together as a team, when we can see that we’re making ourselves heard and that we’re making a difference. It’s made me feel I can go on and do other things” - MST service user on being an regional service user group and a service user strategy group member

 "This is the best way to meet with other service users in the meetings, and send your feedback” - Refugee Support service user on being an RSUG member.

And here’s what Sarah Osei-Menya, Senior Service User Involvement Officer, says:

 

"It's great that we've achieved so much over the last year. It shows what we can do when everyone works together to involve service users in the decisions we make, and its evidence that we really are embracing service user involvement throughout MST. But there's more to do, for example many of our Regional Service User Groups need more and new members from a range of different services, and we have not yet reached our goal of involving service users in the recruitment of all support roles. 

Involving service users helps us tailor our services to their needs. It can also help individuals build confidence and learn new skills - supporting them into independent living. So it's vitally important for us to continue the good progress we've made this year."

 

To find out more about having your say, please ask your support worker or contact your local service user involvement officer.

Find out more about our performance.

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Michael's blog

Michael is a service user who decided to volunteer. He writes about his experiences in the forum and will answer your questions. Visit Michael’s blog

 

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