Our involvement vision is clear. We want patients, families, staff, and our local communities to feel listened to, respected, and genuinely involved. We want to create spaces that are safe, welcoming, and inclusive—places where people feel comfortable sharing their experiences, ideas, and concerns.
Because every voice matters. And what we hear must make a difference. It should shape better care, build stronger relationships, and support healthier communities.
To make this real, we are guided by a set of principles.
First, people and communities must have an active role in decision-making. Not just being asked, but truly involved.
Second, involvement should happen at every stage—and we must always feed back, showing clearly how people’s input has influenced decisions.
Third, we must take the time to understand what matters to our communities—their needs, their experiences, their ideas—and use this to check whether changes are actually working.
Fourth, we need to build trust. Especially with those who have too often been left out or face inequalities.
Fifth, we work in partnership—with organisations like Healthwatch, and with the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector.
Sixth, information must be clear, simple, and accessible to everyone.
Seventh, we use community-centred approaches—building on what already works and empowering people to lead change.
Eighth, we offer different ways for people to get involved, so everyone has a chance to take part.
Ninth, we tackle priorities and service changes together—with people, not separately from them.
And finally, we learn from what works. We build on strengths—across teams, organisations, and communities.
So what does this mean in practice?
For our patients, it means making it easy to share their views and experiences. It means giving clear information so people can make informed choices. And it means using feedback not just to listen—but to improve services together.
For our staff, it means supporting open, compassionate, and collaborative ways of working. It means creating a culture where listening and co-design are part of everyday practice—not something extra.
And for our wider population, it means working in partnership across the system. Reflecting the diversity of the communities we serve. Reaching those whose voices are often unheard. And building joined-up approaches that improve health and reduce inequalities.
Our involvement team plays a key role in making this happen.
We will create easy and flexible ways for people to get involved—online, in person, and out in the community. We will remove barriers, whether that’s language, access, timing, or travel.
We will listen to lived experience—real stories from real people—and make sure those stories shape decisions, services, and pathways. Not just heard, but used.
We will work across organisations—bringing people together, sharing good practice, and avoiding duplication—so engagement is meaningful and effective.
We will support a culture of co-design. Encouraging teams to design services with people, not for them. Involving patients early, not at the end.
And we will be visible. We will spend time in communities, not just in clinical settings. We will show clearly what we’ve heard—and what has changed because of it. And we will keep conversations going, even when decisions are difficult.
Because this is about more than involvement.
It’s about trust.
It’s about partnership.
And it’s about making sure that every voice counts.
Heard. Valued. Together.
Click here to see our Involvement Strategy infographic.
