The Wellbeing
Approach to
Involvement &
Personalisation
Elina Stamou & Angela Newton
Service User Involvement Directorate
16 March 2010
Overview
Personalisation: key principles
Wellbeing Approach to Involvement
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what it is
what it achieves
how
applications in personalisation context
what do service users think about it?
Personalisation – Key Principles
 everyone can lead positive lives
 experts by experience in focus
 choice and control in wellbeing journey
 person centred approach
 independent living
 self directed support & varied portfolio of services
 co-production & cultural change
Wellbeing Approach to Involvement
What It Is
 user led whole systems method & programme
 supports service users’ journey to wellbeing
 training, volunteering opportunities & employment
 person centred support & peer support
 good practice in service user involvement
 developed by service users & Together in 2004
 in service users words: “[it is] what sets Together
apart from other organisations, Together really do
it in a meaningful way”.
Wellbeing Approach to Involvement
What It Achieves
Service Users
 self-confidence, inspiration, motivation, aspirations,
skills, choice & control to lead own lives and
wellbeing journey
 experience in meaningful roles
 improved relationships, social life, social networks
 peer support and positive peer role models
 reduced dependence on mental health services
Wellbeing Approach to Involvement
What It Achieves
Service Users
 influence policy and practice, and lead the
personalisation agenda:
outreach for awareness & understanding
influence & co-production in pilots
design, delivery, evaluation of services
increase self directed support take up
 improves wellbeing
Wellbeing Approach to Involvement
What It Achieves
Community
 effective user involvement, healthy dialogue
and partnership working → wider/meaningful
engagement → relevant, effective services
→ healthy communities
 tailored to individual needs, removes barriers &
engages disengaged people → facilitates social
inclusion → happy citizens of all backgrounds
 supports personalisation agenda
 value for money & broader economic benefits
Wellbeing Approach to Involvement
How It Is Achieved
WAI Principles
 everyone with experience of mental distress
can lead positive lives
 respecting and working with people as people,
not their diagnosis
 talking about mental health Vs illness
 focusing on strengths and potential
 lived experience leads the wellbeing journey
 equality and diversity
Wellbeing Approach to Involvement
How It Is Achieved
WAI Programme
 developed organically by service users & Together
 user led, flexible & responsive to service users
needs: choose options, pace & direction of journey
 meaningful engagement in responsible roles
 a personalisation model service in itself
 peer support & co-production: working together,
mutual respect/benefits/accountability, users lead.
 2000 service users since 2005
What Do Service Users Think?
People active in personalisation through WAI
“I’ve been using services since I was 18, then moved
into Together’s supported accommodation. I received
training and started volunteering. Working alongside
people in similar situations made me feel less alone.
Being involved with Together has helped me gain the
confidence to move on with my life and look forward
rather than backwards.
I now live in my own flat. I receive direct payments
and choose to stay with SUID & Together”.
What Do Service Users Think?
“After completing the leadership training and some
other courses I went on to represent service users at
Together’s National Steering Group, which directly
influences how the organisation operates [including in
relation to personalisation].
It gave me purpose and has helped me regain my
confidence. I feel like it’s OK to be exactly who you
are here so you don’t have to wear a mask. I’ve
suggested the programme to a few people from my
local area. It’s been great to see them grow through
it.”
What Do Service Users Think?
“After I left the hospital, following my breakdown,
I spent years in hostels. I met some frightening
people, others into drugs. I didn’t socialise and so lost
contact with things a bit.
Then I found out about Together and four years later I
have a great portfolio of training and work experience
[including delivering presentations on direct
payments and personalisation]. Before, when things
went wrong I would hide away, now my motto is ‘get
knocked down, get back up again.”
Questions & Answers
Wellbeing Approach to Involvement
In Short
 experts by experience in focus & leading
 flexibility, range of options, choice and control
 confidence, skills and opportunities to influence
personalisation policy and practice
 person centred support & peer support
 inclusive: all backgrounds & experiences
 equal partnerships & co-production led by
service users
 it works!
Contact Us!
Angela Newton
Deputy Director,
Service User Involvement Directorate
angela-newton@together-uk.org
07739 506 583 / 01524 62039
Elina Stamou
Peer Support Development Manager
0207 780 7358/075 9096 1353
elina-stamou@together-uk.org
www.together-uk.org