Community Forum

As part of transition to the Integrated Care System, the Community Forum ceased on 31/03/2022

This has been replaced temporarily by the Interim Patient Assurance Group which will provide assurance and challenge to the CCG Governing Body that patient, service users, carers and the public are effectively engaged and involved in decisions made about health and social care services in North East Lincolnshire in keeping with the North East Lincolnshire Commitment and joint community engagement strategy – “Talking Listening and Working Together”

Community Forum

The Community Forum plays an important role within North East Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). The forum is made up of people who volunteer from the local community called community leads; they work alongside clinical and managerial staff from the CCG.

Community Leads feed back concerns and compliments from the local community to influence and inform the CCG’s decision-making. There is a dedicated lead to support a wide range of service areas, committees and working groups. 

What is the Community Forum?

Community Forum members have the responsibility of making sure the public’s views are being thought of all of the time. They meet every month to discuss CCG service developments, updates and issues.

How does the Community Forum evaluate public and community involvement?

Anne Hames, Chair of the Communty Forum talks about the Community Forum ‘So What?’ workshops.

Anne Hames
Community Forum Chair

"Each year Community Forum members come together for our ‘So What?’ workshop where we evaluate our work with the CCG over the past year and how we have carried out our role(s) both as individual leads and collectively as a Forum.

I facilitate these sessions jointly with the CCG Engagement Lead, and we are joined by a representative from the CCG leadership team and the Lay Member for Public and Patient Involvement.  Prior to the workshop we ask all members to complete a Reflections template to help us to identify the key themes to consider in the workshop.

We ask members to reflect on the most important activities they have been involved with over the past year in relation to their community leadership role, and their personal contribution to these. We also then consider the achievements of the Community Forum and the difference this has made to health and social care commissioning by asking ourselves the question ‘So What’?

Specifically we look for evidence of how the Forum has:

  • challenged and held commissioners to account around involving local people in their decision making
  • ensured proposals/decisions have had appropriate community involvement
  • listened to, discussed and agreed new proposals/changes that are required; challenging decisions, where appropriate

Then we discuss our focus and priorities for the year ahead.  The outcomes from the workshop are then received at the following Community Forum monthly meeting.  I also meet with the Chair of the CCG Governing Board to discuss the performance and strategic direction of the Forum moving forward. 

You can view the presentation from the 2018 ‘So What?’ workshop.

How do I become a Community Lead?

Community representatives must be a member of the Accord scheme before applying to be a part of the Community Forum.

What is it like being a Community Lead?

“After years as an elected public representative, including comprehensive training, with agendas being dealt with effectively and our contributions being listened to and acted upon, the role feels both valid and valued by others” - Diane Edmonds, Community Lead for Dementia and for Communications and Engagement.

“It is important to me to give something back to the NHS and I hope, through this role, I can influence decisions which ensure everyone in our locality has the opportunity to access high quality health and social care”- Eveline Dawson, Community Lead for Equality and Diversity

“Working with the CCG Service Lead as well as other NEL staff is like being back at school, it's a big learning curve, but I do enjoy doing it." Albert Bennett, Community Lead for Long Term Care and Support     

Find out more information about our Community Leads on the Accord website 
      

       
Diane and Pam      Anne (Chair) and Helen (CCCG Chief Operating Officer     Community Forum meeting
   
Albert, David and Bernard     Forum members