Practice experience of involving people in public health based on work in Newcastle upon Tyne Gwen Ellison 2008 Developing a Healthy Living Centre Developing lay people in a healthy living network Developing health trainer services

Questions about this discussion Lay people – who are they? What is public health, health promotion?- What is sustainability?

Lay people developing and running a HLC –the range Management Board Community group Focus groups/informal events/surveys Representing or representative of? Motivation and interests – the drivers Volunteers and legislation

Lay People developing and delivering a healthy living network Building Social Capital – running lots of activities People getting nationally recognised qualifications People learning about determinants of health Self-efficacy or collective action – me or us? Healthy individuals or healthy communities? Collective action or partnership working?- which is more sustainable from a ‘lay’ point of view?

Developing Health Trainer services Governance – is this a problem with developing ‘lay health trainers’? NHS ….. non-NHS – who has ‘control’ over the competencies? (Skills for Health) Fully engaged scenario –the role of ‘people in public health?’ Diversity of models and settings – an opportunity for developing lay people? If NHS paid or if unpaid lay worker - are the outcomes the same? Are they equally valued? Why be an unpaid Health Trainer?

Developing policy/services Why involve lay people? -They know how life is for people – this is collective knowledge that’s valuable and professionals don’t bring this expertise? -This collective knowledge has to be mobilised using a set of skills and knowledge defined within community work, there are no alternatives to this process -Lay people tell us where the system failures are -Lay people help to prioritise and to make better funding decisions and for designing better public health services -Lay people focus on people not professionals and departmental silos -It’s a duty/requirement to involve lay people

Involvement as a lay person can be empowering and enriching but …… It can often disempower and demoralise So - establish parameters at the start - be honest about powers and responsibilities Is it worth the investment of time? What’s the real cost?

Challenges Burden of policies /procedures /legal duties Masses of support required but where does it come from? Is it the ‘right’ support? Where’s the knowledge and experience around providing it? Did lay people sign up for these levels of monitoring and evaluation ? Sustainability - is it always a ‘good thing? Will the next generation volunteer? How to be ethical in our behaviour around working with lay people (value and respect) Are professionals open to challenge from lay people?