Alain Thomas

www.participationcymru.org.uk

Overview workshop

• Background to the Principles• Definitions • The National Principles for Public

Engagement• What is Engagement?• Implementation of Principles• What does 100% success look like?• Live case study• Principles into Practice• Next Steps

Background to the Principles

Aim

To encourage good quality, consistent engagement activity with service

users and the general public by those who provide services

Background to the Principles

• They are a set of national principles aimed at statutory and third sector Public Service providers

• Principles have been finalised following a lengthy process of informal engagement and more formal consultation

• They are overarching principles and not a ‘how to guide’ on public engagement

Definitions

• Engagement – An active and participative process by which people can influence and shape policy and services that includes a wide range of different methods and techniques

• Consultation – A formal process by which policy makers and service providers ask for the views of interested groups and individuals

• Participation – People being actively involved with policy makers and service planners from an early stage of policy and service planning and review

National Principles for Public Engagement

1. Engagement is effectively designed to make a differenceEngagement gives a real chance to influence policy, service design and delivery from an early stage.

National Principles for Public Engagement

2. Encourage and enable everyone affected to be involved, if they so chooseThe people affected by an issue or change are included in opportunities to engage as an individual or as part of a group or community, with their views both respected and valued

National Principles for Public Engagement

3. Engagement is planned and delivered in a timely and appropriate wayThe engagement process is clear, communicated to everyone in a way that’s easy to understand within a reasonable timescale, and the most suitable method/s for those involved is used.

National Principles for Public Engagement

4. Work with relevant partner organisationsOrganisations should communicate with each other and work together wherever possible to ensure that people’s time is used effectively and efficiently.

National Principles for Public Engagement

5. The information provided will be jargon free, appropriate and understandablePeople are well placed to take part in the engagement process because they have easy access to relevant information that is tailored to meet their needs.

National Principles for Public Engagement

6. Make it easier for people to take partPeople can engage easily because any barriers for different groups of people are identified and addressed.

National Principles for Public Engagement

7. Enable people to take part effectivelyEngagement processes should try to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence of all participants

National Principles for Public Engagement

8. Engagement is given the right resources and support to be effectiveAppropriate training, guidance and support are provided to enable all participants to effectively engage, including both community participants and staff.

National Principles for Public Engagement

9. People are told the impact of their contributionTimely feedback is given to all participants about the views they expressed and the decisions or actions taken as a result; methods and form of feedback should take account of participants’ preferences.

National Principles for Public Engagement

10.Learn and share lessons to improve the process of engagementPeople’s experience of the process of engagement should be monitored and evaluated to measure its success in engaging people and the effectiveness of their participation; lessons should be shared and applied in future engagements.

Levels of Engagement

Inform

Listen/consult

We will tell you what we’re doing, advise you, answer questions, signpost information.

Channels: website, media, campaigns, publications, advertising, events/conferences, telephone, email, face-to-face

Audience: citizens, stakeholders

We will ask questions, listen to your concerns and suggestions, use your feedback to develop policy, services and legislation.

Channels: blogs, online forums, surveys, focus groups, consultation, public and 1:1 meetings, front-line feedback, stakeholder and citizen panels

Audience: citizens, stakeholders, special interest/representative groups

Involve/Partner Empower/DelegateWe will work together to design and deliver policies and services, share decision making, maintain relationships.

Channels: workshops, advisory panels/committees, liaison groups, 1:1 relationships, citizens’ juries/forums, community toolkits, online forums/web-chats, networks, 'doing the day job’

Audience: citizens, local service boards, spatial plan groups, partnership councils, communities

We will give you responsibility for making decisions, managing resources and delivering policies and services.

Engagement Model

Channels: participatory budgeting, grant giving, contracting, ballots

Audience: local authorities, health boards, businesses, farmers, ASGBs, non-governmental organisations, communities

Implementation of the Principles

Self Evaluation Tool - 5 stages

1.0. Allocate responsibility and build capacity for evaluation

2.0 Plan the Evaluation of Engagement – define 100% success -plan the Engagement Activities (operational team). 3.0. Implement the engagement activities (operational team). 4.0. Evaluate Engagement

5.0. Disseminate the findings 

What does 100% success look like?

Envisioning Activity

What does 100% success look like?

Principle 1: Engagement is effectively designed to make a difference- Participants clear from the outset about what the engagement is for and what will happen.- The individuals can say “my views do count”.- Reduction/removal of apathy that has resulted from past poor consultations.- Renewed enthusiasm about the consultation process.- Service improvement based on the comments.- Open communication from the beginning about what difference their involvement with make- Action – not just talking (embedded feedback).- Knowing you’ve made a difference.- Knowledge and awareness of service, limitations, resources and practicalities.- Service user choice, not options provided.- Public feel valued. Views are being used in evidence.

Case Study

Principles into PracticeEvaluate Engagementi. Gather and share information about the engagement activities: what was done, the number of people engaged; the range of stakeholders. Share insights about the process.  ii. Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment.  Discuss how your engagement activities sought to meet each of the principles and how successful it was in doing so. Be honest . Agree the key points. Take notes.  Use a simple five point scale to score how far you feel that your engagement activity has achieved success in relation to each principle.

Discuss the results of the scoring – take more notes.

Graded Scale

1. Engagement is effectively designed to make a differenceVery

PoorPoor Average Good Excellent

1 2 3 4 5

Your Feedback

How would you

improve the process?

Next Steps

How can we help?

• PC networks

• Website and Newsletter

• Practitioner’s Manual

• Training

• Other organisations

• Evaluation toolkit – forthcoming 2012

Diolch

Thank you

www.participationcymru.org.uk