The Needs for Genuine User Involvement

Checklist

Resources available to Users

• Office facilities to be made available to users
• Training in meeting skills, committee procedures
• Appropriate written information on how to access services
• Written information on treatment options, including medication and it's side effects
• Written information on coping strategies
• Written information on complaints systems and redress
• Written information on rights including Mental Health Act etc
• Written information on user groups

Equal access and opportunities

• Access to real choices for everyone including people from black and ethnic minorities, women and people with diverse needs
• No discrimination, victimization against users who comment on services
• apply the articles of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the sections of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to mental health user
• Information made attentive to users with side affects and other disabilities
• all information and dialogue between users and professionals easily understandable
• Natural Justice Policy (The user must be allowed to have an opportunity to be heard, when a accusation is made by a professional, before a decision is made)
• Respect users confidentiality and consent
• Equal access to users (Ex-Patients) visiting patients onwards

Structure for involvement of service users

• Agreed definition of user group
• User representation on management committees
• User representation on all quality panels
• Information bulletins/newsletters for users and staff about current issues, future developments etc
• Users monitoring services with a process that identifies problems to be addressed by management
• Staff training in understanding advocacy
• Paying users for involvement so they do not suffer financial discrimniation and pay expenses out of their own income
• Consultation policy for users

Advocacy

• Support for active suer/peer advocates
• User/peer advocates having a right of access to any users who request an advocate
• User/peer advocates to be treated with the same courtesy and respect as professionals
• Appropriate training and support for user/peer advocates

Research and users

• That all research and evaluation in the treatment should be fed bact to users
• That users should be given the opportunity to comment and add/amend any questionnaires/research aimed at obtaining user views

This document was compiled by Users and the North Manchester Mental Health Authority (CHC) and updated by the Manchester User Network in 2007