Innovation Through Community Engagement

30 July 2010 - London

The government’s empowerment agenda calls for councils to have a new duty to inform, consult and involve their stakeholders. Under the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) local public services will be held to account for their impact on better outcomes, specifically taking into account how well the 'duty to involve' is being implemented, and how well the organisation engages local communities and other stakeholders in the financial planning process.

Community Engagement refers to the process of getting communities involved in decisions that affect them and that will improve their quality of life. This is meant to be a two-way process, with organisations benefiting from the imagination and energy of local people. Community engagement can involve individuals, voluntary and community organisations and public sector bodies working together to address local issues.

The course will look at how communities can be effectively involved in the planning, design, delivery and governance of services. It will also address the barriers to community engagement by providing a backdrop to community engagement, the different methods which can be used to involve communities, how to engage with communities considered ‘hard to reach and practical solutions to developing effective evaluation mechanisms.

Who should attend?

This course is aimed at those in the public and third sectors who wish to transform client consultation and engagement into a powerful force for co-production and client led innovation. It is for individuals working in the NHS and other sectors who have a direct or indirect role in - and responsibility for - community engagement This includes those working in local authorities and the community, voluntary and private sectors

£175 plus VAT per course.

To book, download and complete the booking form and return to Nicolette Smith at nsmith@rsph.org.uk fax: 020 3177 1601 www.rsph.org.uk.

If you have any queries or would like more information on the course, please contact Nicolette on 020 3177 1625.