A key takeaway from our work with Healthwatch is that patients want a greater understanding of their treatment journey. To meet this need we have commissioned an extensive suite of resources from leaflets to dedicated information packs. These resources will provide patients with detailed guidance on how to manage the early stages of their condition. This is being supported with an easy-to-use app, providing flexibility and accessibility when the patient needs it the most.
Read MoreECS through its delivery of local Healthwatch, remains committed to improving health and social care services for local people, making sure people are at the design and delivery of services to ensure they remain effective and fit for purpose. We strive to maximise the impact we make through our research, and you can read our local project reports, specific to our service delivery areas of ECS Healthwatch here through these links:
Read MoreAs part of the research, ECS carried out a focus group and interviews that contributed the patient and public voice to the project that evaluated the use of inter-organisational co-operation to make improvements in the NHS. Fieldwork was disrupted by the pandemic which meant that the completion of the research was to some extent delayed, but the report has now been published by the NIHR and can be accessed here.
Read MoreCorporate, Partnership, and Volunteering Manager, Tracy Cresswell said: “Volunteers are at the heart of Team ECS, Volunteers' Week is a chance to celebrate and recognise the fantastic contribution our volunteers make. I would like to thank all volunteers who generously give their time and efforts to support ECS and its network of ECS Healthwatch. I encourage everyone to take the time to appreciate our incredible volunteers for all they do and consider volunteering to help build stronger and more inclusive communities.”
Read MoreWe are recruiting right now for new Advisory Board Members and for a Chair of the Advisory Board. Engaging Communities Solutions CIC (ECS) has been awarded the contract to deliver Healthwatch in Bedford Borough at the start of January 2023. ECS retains contractual responsibility for the service and takes care of all infrastructure requirements like HR matters and finance. That means the Advisory Board focusses on agreeing on the work programme and providing oversight to ensure the work programme is achieved as well as supporting with the promotion of Healthwatch and collection of intelligence.
Read MoreWe are recruiting right now for new Advisory Board Members and for a Chair of the Advisory Board. Engaging Communities Solutions CIC (ECS) have been awarded the contract to deliver Healthwatch in Telford and Wrekin from April. ECS retains contractual responsibility for the service so takes care of all infrastructure requirements like HR matters and finance. That means the Advisory Board focusses on agreeing on the work programme and providing oversight to ensure the work programme is achieved as well as supporting with the promotion of Healthwatch and collection of intelligence.
Read MoreSuccessfully renewing our IiV standard doesn’t mean we pressed the pause button until the next time – there is always more that can be achieved. We are committed to developing and improving our volunteering framework, investing in our volunteer’s future and skills because we know by doing so, we will enhance their experience. We want to retain volunteers and strike new partnerships, build upon our established corporate relationships, and attract a diverse group of volunteers throughout our organisation.
Read MoreAt ECS, our mission is to inspire change and improve outcomes and we are delighted that we will be working with the people of Telford and Wrekin to deliver a high quality Healthwatch service. We believe that health and social care providers can best improve services and reduce health inequalities if they listen to people’s experiences, and we want everyone in Telford and Wrekin to be included in the conversation.
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We’re thrilled to have successfully passed our Cyber Essentials Plus certification. CE+ is an important certification for us to given the rate at which crime related to cyber-related activities is increasing and as such, is becoming a paramount concern for UK businesses and everything going on in the world. It is with great pleasure that Engaging Communities Solutions are pleased to announce that we have passed our Cyber Essentials Plus Certification.
Read MoreIt has been busy few months for the Research Team at ECS. In the Summer and into the Autumn we commenced work on new commissions from NHS England and Improvement; Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust; and Stoke-on-Trent City Council, as well as working on projects that were already underway. We have been commissioned by Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust to undertake work on patient and staff experience and Birmingham and Midlands Eye Centre, using a combination of observation and semi-structured interviews.
Read MoreFrom January 2023 when we take over the contract, we will work hard to build on the great work that has already been achieved by the current provider and focus on implementing and delivering our plan for the contract to maximise the impact Healthwatch Bedford Borough can have. We will work with the public, voluntary and community groups, Bedford Borough Council and the local health and care sector, to make sure that Healthwatch Bedford Borough is an effective and representative champion for local people.
Read MoreWe are enormously grateful to all those of you who have continued to support our work over the last year, be it by sharing your experiences of care, giving up your time as a volunteer or acting on people’s feedback. You have helped us be a champion for local people through our delivery of local Healthwatch and Advocacy services. On behalf of ECS, I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Read MoreGiving our employees, a decent living wage is very important to ECS. While we have always paid our employees above the living wage as standard, it’s brilliant to make a formal commitment and be recognised for paying above and beyond what we believe is a fairer minimum than the National minimum wage. Beyond our own staff, we also have a plan in place to maximise the commitment to the Living Wage across the Contractors we use.
Read MoreThis week is Advocacy Awareness Week 2022 (#AAW22) and to demonstrate how advocacy supports your rights, each day will shine a light on an element of the Human Rights Act. The week-long campaign, which is now in its fifth year, is coordinated by the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) and this year is supported by The British Institute of Human Rights and advocacy providers across the UK. Engaging Communities Solutions is proud to be supporting the week.
Read MoreGill Valentine, our Advocacy Manager said, “advocacy has the power and impact to change people’s lives. Helping someone have their voice heard at a time when they feel at their lowest is one of the most crucial things a person can do, and we must continue striving to do this in the strongest way that we can support people and make their voices heard. Those who already found it harder to have their voices heard have suffered the greatest.
Read MoreMore than 1,000 employers have signed up to the pledge so far, including the BBC, AstraZeneca, Royal Mail, Co-op, Tesco, John Lewis, and a number of public sector organisations such as universities, hospitals, and schools – representing more than 11 million workers.
Read MoreIn talking to many professionals involved in homelessness services, it was evident that there was a great deal of passion and commitment to providing excellent services for people who are homeless, and this was reflected in the range of services available to support people.
Read MoreA report by Healthwatch Warrington has highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Children and Young People in Warrington, with GPs struggling to meet demand reporting a 90 % increase in mental health issues. Some GPs said the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) was "overwhelmed” and “not fit for purpose."
Read MoreWe are deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who served our nation with incredible dignity and absolute dedication during her long years of public service. On behalf of everyone at Engaging Communities Solutions CIC, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the Royal Family. Our thoughts and sympathy are with you.
Read MoreWe finalised the work that we have been doing with Practice Plus Group to develop their family engagement strategy. As part of the work, we developed family forums in the West Midlands to provide opportunities for ongoing engagement between Practice Plus Group and families of patients to improve services and communication. Practice Plus Group are now looking at developing the approach across all eight regions that they operate in.
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