Our vision
That the people of Brent understand and can access health and social care, and that services are fit and fair for all communities.
Our mission
To understand our communities and their needs, logging and addressing their primary concerns.
Our values
• We provide an independent voice that amplifies what we hear from our engagement work
• We will be fair, accessible, and accountable
• We will be creative, solutions focused partners – adding value to or leading service improvement
• We will be nimble – fast, flexible and active
• We collaborate and support other groups
• We connect and support communities so they can drive change locally, while we work at borough level
• We will be actively engaged with Brent’s wide and diverse communities
• We will empower communities – not data mine, but build sustainable networks, skills and knowledge.
• We keep our finger on the pulse, identify key issues and amplifying them to decision makers
• We will provide a check and balance to ensure services are fit and fair
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What does Healthwatch Brent do?
Answer:
- We collect feedback from residents about publicly funded health and social care services. Based on the feedback received, we develop reports and recommendations on how these services should or ought to be improved.
- We share data and recommendations with service providers and service commissioners. We monitor if and how the recommended changes are implemented.
- We signpost people to relevant services and provide advice: this includes, but is not limited to, helping residents put forward a complaint about services, signposting to advocacy and local support organisations, and explaining how to navigate changes in services.
Question: How is feedback/data collected?
Answer:
- Research & reporting: The research projects we undertake aim to identify and examine issues that may be of particular concern to residents; these projects can either be commissioned by a third party (such as the local authority or the ICS), or run independently. In our reporting, we employ a variety of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, such as questionnaires and surveys, focus groups, and interviews.
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Communication and signposting: Through our social media platforms, online webforms, phoneline, and email inbox, we handle communication and register feedback directly and continuously from residents.
Besides providing service users with advice and signposting to our partner organisations, we also monitor trends and themes that arise from these interactions, by inputting the information that is given in our data records.
Question: What do Healthwatch Brent volunteers do?
Answer:
Sit on our Advisory Board as Board members:
- Set the priorities for the workplan.
- Engage with the full diversity of local communities and promote Healthwatch Brent.
- Advise on how Healthwatch Brent delivers its strategy.
Assist with data collection and reporting:
- Collect people's experiences of health and social care services at Healthwatch events or when out and about in the community.
- Visit health and social care services on Enter and View visits.
- Help to analyse and report what people say about their health and social care services.
Assist with outreach, signposting, and communication:
- Help share information about local services.
- Represent Healthwatch Brent at meetings with external organisations.
- Raise awareness of the role of Healthwatch Brent
Question: How much influence does Healthwatch Brent have?
Answer: We are supported by Healthwatch England, which also has statutory powers, and can raise serious issues at the highest level. However, we believe we can often be influential in improving services through dialogue and partnership, without the need to invoke our statutory powers.
Question: Is Healthwatch Brent part of the NHS or council?
Answer: No, Healthwatch Brent is an independent organisation and we have an Advisory Board to oversee our delivery and independence.
Question: Are you able to investigate the private sector?
Answer: We are only able to challenge practices that get public funding.
Question: When should I contact Healthwatch Brent?
Answer: If you need to speak to someone about your personal experience or have feedback about a local health and social care service. Or if you want information about local health and social care services, or would like to become a volunteer for Healthwatch.
