General Practice Transformation Champions, 28th March 2019, Novotel Hammersmith, London

1. www.england.nhs.uk
Primary Care Networks:
Working in Partnership
with People and
Communities

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• ‘Public participation’ or ‘engagement’ is about including
local people as part of decision-making, and is different
to involving individuals in decisions about their own
care.
• ‘Working in partnership with people and communities’
means going further than involving people in ‘one off’
engagement or consultation exercises, and instead
having an ongoing dialogue with the local community:
co-creation of services and support.
• PCNs should aim to develop a ‘business as usual’
approach of working in partnership with their local
community – ensuring that the views and experiences
of local people influence all aspects of the design and
delivery of care and they are co-created with people.
Overview
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• Local people often have solutions that would work better for their
communities
• Enabling people to have ‘ownership’ of their local services and
support empowers them and is ‘health creating’
• Connects other community assets in to the local health family
• Empowers communities to address health issues in sustainable
ways
• Builds greater understanding of local health services
• These are their services that need to work for them
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Why work in partnership with people
and communities?

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• What’s already happening and who’s already active in local areas?
• PCNs can build from what has already been developed
• Voluntary sector networks and forums
• Local Healthwatch
• Local Authority ‘neighbourhood forums’
• PPGs
• Other services involvement groups e.g. Trust Governors
• Elected members / ward councillors
• Housing associations, tenants and residents groups
• Schools and colleges
How to get started
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• In order to establish a culture of working in partnership with people and
communities, PCNs should consider:
• Mapping and connecting with community assets, with VCSE organisations,
local Healthwatch, GP Practice PPGs and other patient groups.
• Taking an ‘assets based’ or partnership approach, recognising that everyone
has something to contribute and exploring shared solutions to identified
issues.
• Ensuring that engagement activities include those who do not regularly
access services, including those from ‘seldom heard’ groups and those that
experience health inequalities.
• Embedding patient, carer and public views as part of governance or decision-
making structures, as well as undertaking wider work to capture views, for
example through focus groups.
• Identifying resources to support effective and meaningful involvement. This
should support the approaches developed to support social prescribing.
Practical steps
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• Set out your vision but don’t be fixed – allow others to contribute and
improve your vision
• Engaging with local councillors early – they are well connected and can
be incredibly helpful
• Networks aren’t new organisations, they are new ways of working
• Ask about what matters to people rather than telling them what you
think is important
• Support people to own and develop their ideas as part of the network
• Consider who you’re connecting with and reach out to others in
creative and accessible ways
Set out your vision and invite others
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Language is important
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People and communities are like
a plate of spaghetti – messy and
unstructured
The NHS is rules based and
highly structured
Learning to work in new ways
that are messy and unstructured
is part of the challenge
Being comfortable with not being
fully in control and allowing
others to take the lead
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• Some useful principles to consider when working in partnership with
people and communities include:
• Start by asking what people want and what support they might need
– they can own it.
• Involvement is messy and organic – develop it with people
• Building on what already exists, including activities, infrastructure
and insight.
• Get local people involved at the earliest stage and maintain an
ongoing conversation – feedback, what’s happening and what next.
• Being open and honest with people, including about what you don’t
know, and the ‘tricky issues’.
• Using community spaces (libraries, community cafes, community
centres etc.) can be more accessible for some people.
• Valuing people’s time and input.
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Considerations / principles

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Coproduction – working together!

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• Embedded into the GP Practice(s) and the local community:
• Collaborative and focused on shared priorities;
• Connected to other ‘health and care’ involvement activities;
• Networked to the community – linked to community groups,
leaders and initiatives.
• Diverse and enthusiastic membership:
• Representative of the local community;
• Interested and well-informed;
• Flexible approach to form and function, including membership,
meetings and feedback.
• Uses a range of existing evidence and insight, gathering additional
views where appropriate.
• Clear purpose, focused on impact and clearly adding value.
What makes a great PPG?
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• Wide range of (free) resources on the NHS England Involvement Hub
(www.england.nhs.uk/participation), including:
• Statutory guidance for CCGs and NHS England on involving people in
health and care;
• Good practice examples and case studies;
• Resources, including Bitesized Guides, NHS England policies (for example
on working with patient / public partners and reimbursing expenses), and
templates.
• Training offer, including free-to-access online courses on topics such as using
social media to engage and developing excellent relationships with patient /
public partners.
• Rolling cycle of webinars – with bespoke series aimed at PCNs coming soon
(tell us what would help you).
• ‘Future NHS’ shared workspace for system transformation – PCN area to be
available shortly.
Resources and support
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• Bitesize guides, ‘top tips’, case studies – are these useful and what
topics would you like to see covered?
• Peer support – would a buddying approach be helpful?
• Online e-learning and other training?
• Face to face training e.g. 10 steps to good engagement
• Bespoke support e.g. facilitation of local conversations to develop
shared plans?
• Online forums to share practice
• What else would work for you?
• What doesn’t work for you?
What support is helpful to you?
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