New report: Engaging people with lived experience

A newly published report commissioned by the ALLIANCE look at engagement best practice, challenges, and opportunities.

There is a growing practice in Scotland to ensure that people’s expertise and knowledge through their lived experience is valued and, and that people’s voices are at the centre of policy and practice through meaningful involvement in decisions which affect them. Yet, this is a culture shift which is still developing, and currently there remain occasions where people are being involved with insufficient time or resources being allocated, and where the scope to influence feels predetermined and somewhat limited to those involved.

If we are to realise the ambition where people are meaningfully able to share their lived experience to influence decisions and actions taken at a policy level, it is essential that we understand what good looks like, what the barriers and enablers are to engaging with people with lived experience, and develop robust evidence about the difference it can make when individuals are active and equal partners in the development of policy and practice.

As an organisation, the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) is committed to contributing to the realisation of this ambition and we have been involved in a range of work internally and with members on this issue. This research by the Democratic Society (Demsoc) was commissioned to explore the existing evidence on best practice for the meaningful involvement of those with lived experience.

There is already great work which can be built upon across Scotland and internationally. This research helps to bring some of this together and will be a useful resource to groups and organisations seeking to develop and assess their own practice. It also helpfully highlights that more research is needed to evaluate the impact of involving people with lived experience on policy and practice. It is imperative that we invest in this evidence base to ensure there is accountability as well as the opportunity for learning and improvement. For our part, we are committed to ensuring that the ALLIANCE utilises this research in our continuing work to collaborate with members in supporting this culture change which we see as integral to embedding a human rights-based approach.

The full report can be accessed via the PDF below. A video version summarising the project, research findings, and recommendations can also be viewed on our ALLIANCE Live YouTube channel (this link will take you away from our website).

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