Promoting Well Being

What is PPI?

Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) is also known as Service User Involvement and can be described as: how service users: patients, clients and carers (including the public) can have their say about care and treatment and the way services are planned and delivered

Personal refers to service users, patients, carers, consumers, customers or any other term to describe people who use Health and Social Care Services as individuals or as part of a family.

Public refers to the general population and includes locality, community and voluntary groups and other collective organisations. Individuals who use health and social care services are also members of the general public.

Involvement means more than consulting and informing. It includes engagement, active participation and partnership working.

A Service User is “Anyone who needs long term care or support from local health, social services or housing or who uses services intensively for a short period of time” (Better Care Higher Standards Department of Health July 2000)

From 1 April 2009, a new statutory duty of public involvement and consultation has been placed on all health and social care organisations. The Southern Trust is committed to ensuring that everyone who needs to and wishes to be involved in the planning, development and evaluation of its services is facilitated to do so irrespective of their learning, skills, knowledge and experience. As we plan and develop services, we can only make improvements by involving people who have experience of using these services, either as a service user, carer or member of the public.

How can I become involved?

There are a number of ways in which you can become involved. You do not need to get involved in everything. We will let you know about opportunities and you can decide how much you want to be involved. Being involved can mean:

• Being involved in negotiating a plan of care
• Telling us your experience of a service you have received
• Being consulted about how to develop a service or a major plan
• Giving you views on the development of Trust strategies, policies and procedures
• Working with us to influence corporate and organisational priorities and the overall direction of the Trust.

People can be involved as:

• Individuals in decisions about their own care
• Groups of service users or carers  or organisations with special interest
• Local communities

If you would like to become involved, please speak to the person who is responsible for delivering your care. This could be your Social Worker, nurse, day care worker or other health and social care professional. Look out for “Have Your Say!” posters and leaflets in the waiting room or public area where you receive you service or contact the PPI Team.

Is there support available?

The Trust can support you in a number of ways:

• Providing you with information and training
• Reimbursing your expenses
• Providing personal support 

Further details of support available can be found in the Trust’s Interim Service User, Carer and Stakeholder Reimbursement Guidelines and Procedures. Alternatively you can contact a member of the PPI Team.