What is Never Heard and why are we doing it?
Giving a voice to people who need it most
In November 2022, we launched a project to hear from people who don’t always have an opportunity to share their views. Every 3 months we will work with a different group and the public in new creative ways to help people express their views and join in the conversation to hear a range of experiences around NHS health and social care.
Why?
The main purpose of the Never Heard project is for people and communities that may find it hard to share their views in conventional ways, to be heard by Healthwatch, the social care system and the NHS.
We know how important your experiences are in encouraging new ways of working. Now, there is a greater emphasis on your views being heard than ever before with the new integrated systems across Kirklees and Calderdale working towards improvements — we are here to amplify your voices and make sure they know what you want and need.
1. Finding out what matters most to people with sensory, cognitive, learning or physical disabilities in Kirklees and Calderdale
Led by feedback about what health and care concerns matter to our community most, in the project’s first stage, we wanted to hear from anyone with sensory, cognitive, learning or physical disabilities.
Here’s just some of what we heard:
What are we doing with what we heard:
Below you can follow the project journey.
- You’ll find our spotlight on disabilities project summary, which tells you in more detail what we did.
- Next, watch how we reached out creatively to adults living with learning disabilities.
- Read the ‘Your voices heard’ impact write-up to find out how policymakers use what you told us to reshape their plans.
Finding out what matters
Hearing people's views
Making sure voices are heard
Youth watch zone – children with long-term conditions
Young people’s voices have the power to shape the future of health and social care. In every project we reach out to young people to hear their views and empower them to take ownership of their care. We wanted to know how healthcare services can support children with disabilities and long-term conditions. So we asked them…
How can health care services support a young person with Coeliac
What did young people and their parents tell us
How has talking helped
Supporting people with Mental Health conditions
Did you know
In any given week
- 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England [1]
- 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (like anxiety and depression) in any given week in England [2].
Locally we are also seeing more people talking to us about mental health. It’s our job to find out else what the health and social care system could do to help support you with your mental health. Ongoing and throughout all of our Never Heard work we have a dedicated mental health engagement officer who can help you with information and signposting and raise your mental health concerns with services.
Talk to us today, and we’ll make sure your voices are heard.
If you need help now with your mental health, the following services have 24/7 support.
- Click here for a quick 2-question NHS online assessment
- Samaritans. To talk about anything that is upsetting you, you can contact Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can call 116 123 (free from any phone), email jo@samaritans.org or visit some branches in person. You can also call the Samaritans Welsh Language Line on 0808 164 0123 (7pm–11pm every day).
- Shout. If you prefer not to talk but want mental health support, you could text SHOUT to 85258. Shout offers a confidential 24/7 text service providing support if you are in crisis and need immediate help.
- Additional support services can be found here.
Do you feel unheard?
We want to help people who have never shared feedback before or who find it hard to feedback on their experience with the health and social care system. If this is you please get in touch with us today.
There are lots of ways you can talk to us.
Speak to one of our friendly team who will listen and can lend a helping hand: 01924 450 379
Email: info@healthwatchkirklees.co.uk
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Write a letter: Healthwatch Kirklees, The Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre, Hopwood lane, Halifax HX1 5ER