Lived Experience Team

Our NHS Lived Experience Team

Big Ben

An innovative model

As part of our support for the NHS we have developed this innovative model that is already impacting on national decision making. Our Lived Experience Team is drawn from across England and together its members have diverse experience of the vulnerabilities common among those who are regularly in contact with the criminal justice system.
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What peer support should look like

They’re defining what peer support should look like. Our Lived Experience Team members are using their unique perspectives and insights to co-design peer support in liaison and diversion services, building on our many years of development of this ground-breaking model.
Dialogue

Workshops and consultations

Our team members run workshops and consult with wider groups. For example they took a leading role in the work led by KPMG with the Offender Health Collaborative to assess the possible options for integrating liaison and diversion with related health and justice services. This work informed a strategic review of the national service.
Judge's Gavel

An advisory board

Our Lived Experience Team advise the national Liaison and Diversion Programme and are also members of its governance group.
Healthcare

Assurance to the NHS

Team members are developing a model that allows service users to judge the quality of services provided by the NHS, helping to ensure that they are appropriate for the real-word needs of people with multiple and complex problems.
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A supported team

The Revolving Doors Agency gives the team consistent support. This begins with initial recruitment and subsequent training in skills such as facilitation, peer research and power and influence. We support the advisory board in its meetings and work with team members to co-write their reports.
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The impact of our Lived Experience Team has been considerable

Members have clearly demonstrated the need for peer support within liaison and diversion. They have persuaded commissioners and the national Programme Board to change the model to include this and have also been an integral part of the governance of the programme.

The team has driven the discussion about integration – a key recommendation of the first Lived Experience report.

Individual members have supported the programme’s publicity through speaking engagements, taking part in filming and giving interviews.

“I have experienced mental health issues, substance misuse and homelessness and realise that people that fall into this category need support and not criminalising.”

OUR ROLE IS TO ENSURE THAT VULNERABLE PEOPLE’S NEEDS ARE MET AND THAT THEY ARE BEING SUPPORTED

Rae-Anne from Coventry, member of our Lived Experience Team

Our lived experience team comes from a range of different backgrounds with a variety of experiences.

NHS England L&D LET infographic
Service User Group

“A model of not only involvement but recommendations with action, and action that makes a real impact on individuals' lives, improvement on national commissioning and has enabled partnership bodies in both health and justice to truly understand the needs of patients and health inequalities. This is an excellent example of a good grass roots project that really gets it!”

IN THE LAST TWO YEARS I HAVE BEEN GREATLY IMPRESSED WITH THE LIVED EXPERIENCE TEAM

Kate Davies OBE, Director of Health & Justice, Armed Forces and Sexual Assault Referral Centres, NHS England