We know that children, young people and adults with very different communication or sensory needs are not always heard from when the NHS and other organisations plan or change services and support. This might be because they cannot come to meetings or tell people what they think in the same ways other people can.

 

NHS England asked Speakup and Sheffield Sparkle to work with 14 people from this seldom heard group, to find out what they think about:

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• Health inequalities

• Reducing inpatient numbers

• Developing new service frameworks for Children and Young People (key working, intensive community support)

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Speakup and Sheffield Sparkle:

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• Looked at solutions that would support people with seldom heard voices to be part of NHS England’s future plans.

• Made recommendations to Sustainable Transformation Partnerships/Integrated Care Systems and regions to make sure peoples voices and views are heard in the future.

• Made recommendations for approaches for future work to make sure NHS England co-produce their work.

• Made a Toolkit to help other professionals make adjustments and find ways to communicate with people who are Seldom Heard.

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Click here to download the Toolkit we all made - which could help you in your work

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