Want to Have a Say?

posted: 11/10/2010

George House Trust wants four people to join our SMART group to have a say about our services. The deadline for applying is Monday 1 November.

We believe involving people with HIV in our services is really important. As part of our Service User Involvement Strategy, our SMART group, the Service Monitoring and Review Team, is a key way for people to have a real say in our services.

African and gay men wanted especially

SMART is a team of 16 people who use George House Trust services. SMART reports directly to the Board of George House Trust. We want 4 people to join SMART and we particularly want HIV positive African and gay men to apply, as both of these are under-represented on SMART.

SMART group meets every 2 - 3 months. You will be sent copies of papers to read and think about before the meeting. SMART meetings discuss all aspects of our services. SMART agrees a work plan for what we will discuss each year.

What does SMART do?
SMART involves people with HIV who use services to examine how we deliver services and suggests ways to develop and improve services.

Why get involved?
SMART is one way to be more involved in George House Trust and put something back. Involvement informs you about service delivery and developments as well as how we monitor and evaluate services. Becoming involved in SMART builds your skills and experiences.

What skills and experience do I need to join SMART?

Here are the things we expect of people in the SMART:

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep our ground rules at all times
• Being committed to service user involvement and providing feedback
• Making the time to read all the papers before the meetings
• Interested in all services George House Trust provides
• Being committed to working together as part of the SMART team
• To broadly support the work of George House Trust

Deadline: applications must be returned to Lynda by Monday 1st November .

SMART application pack

1. Information and what we are looking for
2. SMART Terms of Reference
3. Application form

Information from and applications to Lynda Shentall, Director of Services by email or phone 0161 274 4499 

Website to Have Your HIV Say

posted: 18/09/2009

SHout Loud (Sexual Health Out Loud) is a new website to help you have a say about sexual health, contracepton and HIV services in England.

Many decisions about health are now made locally, and they should take your views into account. What people say about health services is even more important now, and you can have a big impact and change and improve sexual health, contraceptive and HIV services locally. SHout Loud aims to empower you to affect local decisions and improve sexual health in your and our communities.

Interactive map to find local information and have your say
SHout Loud is a collaborative project between AHPN, Brook, fpa, MedFASH, NAT and THT.

The SHout Loud website features an interactive map, which you can use to find local sexual health, HIV and teenage pregnancy statistics, find out about local NHS and local authority plans and targets for sexual health, and take action to improve sexual heath in your area, by contacting local decision-makers using the ‘Take Action’ button.

SHout Loud will develop guides to local decision-making and campaigning, and develop regional pages where people can share local stories, news and campaigns.

Please visit the SHout Loud website to find out about the state of sexual health in your area, and take action by contacting key decision-makers.

Join the survey - an Amazon voucher is up for grabs

You can also take part in the SHout Loud survey to help find out how much people know about healthcare and local decision-making, and be in with a chance of winning a £20 Amazon voucher.
 

Join SMART Group to Have a Say

posted: 01/09/2009

Services users can have a significant job as members of the George House Trust SMART group. SMART group is the Service Monitoring and Review Team. SMART group looks at the services that George House Trust provides and is also sometimes asked for its views on the needs of people living with HIV by external organisations. The SMART group reports directly to the Board of Trustees and meets once a month.

We are inviting people to apply to join SMART group for the year following our Annual General Meeting in October. It is one way of becoming more involved in George House Trust and letting us know what you think about the services that we provide and need to develop.

The group meets once a month. Travel costs and help with childcare costs are available. If you join you need to make a commitment to coming to as many meetings as possible over the year.

We are currently recruiting new people to join the SMART group for October 2009 – September 2010.

Applications need to be made by the 30th of September.

Want to know more?
If you would like to know more, or want to become a member then please email Lynda Shentall, the Director of Services at George House Trust, or ring and ask for her on 0161 274 4499.
 

Please complete the Application form and Equal Opportunities forms, then email them to Lynda, by 30 September,

or by post to

Lynda Shentall,

George House Trust,

77 Ardwick Green North,

Manchester, M12 6FX