Debbie Beale Civic Engagement Officer Age Concern and Help the Aged

1. Debbie Beale � Civic Engagement Officer Age Concern and Help the Aged Engagement � a new buzz word What do we mean and how are we doing it?

2. Presentation Summary Introduction to Engagement at Age Concern and Help the Aged What do we mean by Engagement? The benefits of engaging with older people Ways in which we can engage

3. Engagement at Age Concern and Help the AgedOlder people at the heart of all that we do The Engagement Team of staff are: In touch with hundreds of thousands of older people A resource for our organisation and external organisations wishing to �engage� A channel for people in later life to communicate their views and thoughts to us Understanding of the desire by older people to be involved in decision-making

4. Engagement at Age Concern and Help the Aged Older people at the heart of all that we do All our departments involve older people in developing policies and services The organisation has a commitment to increasing and improving ways in which we engage We engage with vast networks of older people Speaking Up for Our Age � supporting older people to have a voice on matters that are important to them

5. Engagement � what do we mean? Dictionary definitions: �Bind by contract, hire, pledge oneself, charm, hold fast, interlock, employ busily, bring into conflict� We need to be clear about what we mean and this will depend on what we are trying to achieve Progress from listening to people as users of services, now recognised as consumers. Personalisation, people in control of their lives

6. The benefits of engagement People who use services know what works for them so scarce resources can be used effectively Older people have wide knowledge, experience and a different perspective A wealth of ideas based on experience free of charge Developing democracy and ownership of policy and practice Easier decision-making � how do you decide where to put the new bench? A source of information � where are the broken paving stones that need repairing?

7. The need to engage older people �Nothing about us without us� The demographic profile � a force to be reckoned with Improving efficiency � cutting waste The statutory �Duty to Involve� CQC and Audit Commission expectations

8. Types of Engagement Questionnaires, focus groups, forums, conferences, an elected representative, complaints procedures, feedback forms, informal discussions, emails, etc Tokenism or real influence? Convincing older people it is worth their while We need to be convinced ourselves Recognition of voluntary commitment Honesty and feedback

9. Types of Engagement � who can we engage? Older People�s Advisory Groups Older People�s Forums � 60 in NW, coming together as NW Older People�s Forum Voices of people who are seldom heard � share good practice in engaging with older people in BME groups, gay / lesbian, in care homes, housebound, people in prisons, travellers. . . . Individuals, other older people�s organisations

10. Older People�s Forums � a valuable resource Run voluntarily by older people, for older people, often with hundreds of members Democratic, independent, non-party political Locality based or based on common interest A source of information about local needs A body to consult and share information with Reducing isolation and loneliness Contribute to older people�s partnership boards, local strategic partnerships etc

11. Any Questions?