Your local name

Championing health and social care in

West BerkshireKey Messages for the

Community of West Berkshire

West Berkshire

You can be involvedin shaping local services according to what

your communitywants and needs

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Your views on local services

Local Healthwatch Positioning Helping you get the best out of your local health and social care. Local voices improving local health and care

The ambition of local Healthwatch is… The best health and care services, shaped by local needs and experiences

The principles that drive us are… Championing equality Representation, evidence, and accountability

Local Healthwatch shares with Healthwatch England its ambition to achieve the best health and care services that are shaped by local needs and experiences

The way we go about all our work is… Open, flexible, approachable Practical and dynamic ‘From the ground-up’

Local Healthwatch will work towards this ambition in their area, championing fairness and equal access and treatment, making sure they are at all times representative of the whole community and local needs, rooted in the evidence of local experiences and accountable, ultimately, to local people

Every voice counts Local influence for local impact

Every voice counts when it comes to shaping the future of health and social care, and when it comes to improving it for today. Everything that local Healthwatch does will bring the voice and influence of local people to the development and delivery of local services. Children, young people and adults need to feel that their local Healthwatch belongs to and reflects them and their local community. It needs to feel approachable, practical and dynamic and to act on behalf of local people

Healthwatch will give children, young people and adults a powerful voice locally and nationally. Local Healthwatch will work to help people get the best out of their local health and social care services. Whether it’s improving them today or helping to shape them for tomorrow. Local Healthwatch is all about local voices being able to influence the delivery and design of local services. Not just people who use them, but anyone who might need to in the future

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Healthwatch will help you get the best out of your local health and social care services

What is going on in the world that makes what we do important?

Healthwatch will help you and your family get the best out of your local health and social care services

The public has few ways to use its powerful voice and may not realise the difference it can make to services

Our health and social care system is going through massive change

Power is shifting from the centre to local people

All organisations have to make cuts to spending and services

People may not believe that they have real power

People rarely speak up, for fear of repercussions, through lack of engagement, or because they don’t think they can make a difference

Healthwatch is an opportunity for the public to use its voice to have real influence forchildren, young people and adults

Why do we feel that this is important?

We can create a better health and social care system for all of us

The best health and social care services will be based on respect, compassion, excellence, and driven by you

This is an opportunity for us all to create a health and care system that really meets our needs

Every voice counts when it comes to shaping the future of services and improving them for today

Services should be and will be based on children, young people and adult’s needs and experiences and accountable to local people

Healthwatch makes health and care providers answerable to you, the children, young people and adults who use their services

You can be involved in shaping local services according to what your community wants and needs

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How are we solving these problems?

Local voices improving local health and social care and helping you get the best out of services

We give you information about the care choices you have. We help you to navigate the health and care system

We’re out there talking and listening to people from every part of your community, children, young people and adults

We tell services about your experiences of care and hold them to account

People who are least able to speak will be heard through Healthwatch

We are part of your community and we’re answerable to you. We reach out to everyone in your community – we’re not a committee but a powerful community-based organisation, which speaks on your behalf

We’re a challenging organisation and we don’t ignore poor practice. We help you turn it into good practice

How do we want people to respond?

Every voice counts

We’re here, ready to get started. Come and talk to us. Your words will make a differenceKnow that your voice counts, and really will change care for the better

We’re independent, transparent and accountable and we’re powerful – we have the strength of the law and the national influence of Healthwatch England behind us

Tell us what’s going on in care services where you live

Tell us what you want, what you like and dislike. We want to hear the good and the bad

Healthwatch will work because people support us, work with us, give their views and take part

Helping you by helping children, young people and adults get the best out of their local health and social care services

Healthwatch works on behalf of the whole community - children, young people and adults

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Every VoiceCounts

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Family Resource Centre UK have been commissioned by West Berkshire Council to deliver Healthwatch West Berkshire . This independent service aims to give a voice to people of West Berkshire, to have real impact on health services and care.

Email us at:contact@healthwatchwestberkshire.co.uk

Call us on:01635 886 210

Postal Address:Healthwatch West Berkshire,Broadway House,4-8 The Broadway,Newbury,Berkshire,RG14 1BA

Family Resource Centre UK. A Charity Registered in England and Wales No. 1078331. A Company Limited by Guarantee No. 3841084.