At ECS our mission is “to ensure the voices of those who use public services are at the forefront of service design and delivery” – as part of this process, the network of nine ECS Healthwatch published 57 reports in 2020/201, across, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Halton, Warrington, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell, Leicester, and Leicestershire during COVID-19 pandemic, about the improvements people would like to see to health and social care services.
Read MoreSince COVID-19 struck, the work of the Healthwatch network to support and listen to local people became more crucial than ever. An extraordinary and productive year when reflecting on last year, it is satisfying to recognise how much our network of Local Healthwatchs has achieved despite the pandemic.
Read MoreECS have been commissioned by Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to work with communities as part of their large-scale transformation plan for community mental health services. We have exciting opportunities for people living in Cannock, East Staffordshire, Seisdon and Tamworth to be co-producers with us.
Read MoreAfter a long, hard fight, the COVID picture is improving. 12 months on from the start of our fight against Coronavirus we are continuing to see a much-improved situation across the county. Thank you to everyone – but we must remain cautious and vigilant
Read MoreThis year’s World Autism Awareness Week ran from 29th March – 4th April. It was an opportunity to think about the society we want to live in when we leave Covid-19 lockdown – and the small things we can all do to make it work better for autistic children, adults and their families.
Read MoreEngaging Communities Solutions (ECS) is working in partnership with Diabetes UK to understand how patients have been affected by the use of telephone or online consultations with their GP practice or other Primary Care service.
Read MoreThe easing of the national lockdown and the vaccination programme gives us all hope that we will return to normal one day. The last 12 months have been difficult for all of us, and we have had to adapt, none more so than the amazing doctors, nurses and care staff on the front line.
Read MoreGill Valentine, one of our Advocacy Managers gives us an insight into what a typical day is like for her.
“My name is Gill Valentine and I currently manage the advocacy service at Healthwatch Halton as well as delivering an active case load. We currently provide statutory advocacy services for clients residing in Halton. The advocacy service is a small team and is made up of two full-time advocates (one of whom is me) and two part-time advocates.
Read MoreHealthwatch England looked at ease of public accessing GP appointments and how appointments were delivered during Covid-19 Lockdown. As a result, ECS have joined forces with Healthwatch England to conduct a study into digital exclusion in Primary Care Services across our nine Healthwatch services.
Read MoreThe way health and social care services operate has been affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) with non-urgent treatment postponed, face-to-face appointments reduced and homes and services limiting public access.
However, the work of our local Healthwatch teams has not stopped and our staff are working hard to find new and innovative ways of making sure people can continue to share their experiences of health and social care issues so we can make their voices heard.
Read MoreWe want to say thank you for your continued support throughout this difficult year. We have been very fortunate to remain busy throughout the pandemic.
We all wish you a safe and happy Christmas, during the holiday season, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our success possible. It is in this spirit that we say thank you and send best wishes for the holidays and New Year.
Read MoreECS has been an accredited real Living Wage employer for a number of years now. The real Living Wage is an independently set hourly rate of pay, calculated according to the basic costs of living. It is currently set at £9.50 an hour for employees across the UK. It is updated annually, and employers pay it on a voluntary basis.
Read MoreThis year marks the third annual advocacy awareness week and this year more than ever it seems fitting to be spending a dedicated week focusing on raising awareness of the power and impact of independent advocacy in people’s lives. Every day our independent advocates play a vital role in ensuring people have their rights upheld and their feelings and wishes heard.
Read MoreThis week is National Inclusion Week, a national event designed to celebrate diversity and explore new ways to make all aspects of community life as inclusive as possible. Running from September 28th-October 4th, 2020 it was created by Inclusive Employers and aims to raise awareness of inclusion in the workplace.
Read MoreWe are pleased to reproduce this article from Healthwatch England which looks at how we can communicate better with hearing loss, especially as a result of the restrictions that have been in place as a result of Covid-19.
Read MoreAt ECS our advocacy services help people with mental health issues make their views heard and break down the prejudice they can encounter. This is part of our commitment to involve service users in how mental health services are designed and delivered at both a national and local level.
Read MoreEngaging communities Solutions (ECS), has achieved the leading UK Govt endorsed Security industry certification – Cyber Essentials certification – awarded after a rigorous technical review of our company’s security processes, platform and successfully providing evidence and demonstrating our security compliance against different risk and threat vulnerabilities.
Read MoreWe are delighted, as a CIC to have made a donation to Staffordshire Women’s Aid, who have been providing domestic and sexual violence services and support to Women and their Children since 1976. They provide an incredibly important service, that includes: a 24-hour helpline, refuge accommodation, 1 to 1 emotional support and counselling.
Read MoreThis project, with the University of Birmingham, is looking at the effectiveness and impact of different partnering arrangements, including mergers of trusts to provider networks in primary care settings.
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