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Manchester HIV Social Care Consultation

posted: 31/07/2009

Manchester Town HallIf you have used HIV social care services in Manchester, including George House Trust, have your say now about the future for HIV services provided or funded by the city council. The consultation is for all people living with HIV and carers living in Manchester.

Manchester Adult Social Care Department is consulting HIV service users and carers during August and September.

Workers and volunteers can have their say too - volunteers and workers online questionnaire.

The consultation is about social care services provided by, for example, Barnardo's, Black Health Agency, Body Positive North West, George House Trust as well as the council's own HIV Care managers.

The department wants

  • Service users and carers to feel they have a voice and can suggest improvements or change
  • To know what service users and carers think works well in HIV social care
  • To know what service users and carers think needs improving
  • To know if service users and carers think there are any gaps in services
  • To find out why some people don’t use services.


The department will then discuss these with service providers and the people who plan services and develop an Action Plan for what should happen next.


Confidentiality

If you decide to get involved what you say will be kept confidential so no-one will be able to identify you from your answers and you will not be asked for your name. You do not have to take part, and if you do decide to take part, you can withdraw at any time without giving a reason.

How to have your say

  • You can ring Judy Sutton, the Consultation Worker, on 0161-273-2016 or email her. She can then arrange to meet you somewhere private near where you live, or talk to you on the phone
  • Judy will be attending group meetings in August and early September at George House Trust, Barnardo’s , Black health Agency and Body Positive North West - when these are arranged the dates and times for those at George House Trust will be added to our website diary - please check
  • You can complete a printed questionnaire at one of these service consultations
  • You can answer this online questionnaire for HIV+ service users and carers                 
  • Volunteers and workers can answer their own questionnaire online or write and post, or email their answers to these staff and volunteer questions (FREEPOST address and email below)
  • You can complete a printed questionnaire and return it in a freepost envelope to Judy at the council - address below
  • Carer? If you care for someone who is HIV positive you can attend the Focus Group at Manchester Carers Forum, Swan Buildings, 20 Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JW on Wednesday 9 September between 12 and 2pm, or contact Judy to arrange to meet, or complete a questionnaire.
  • If you would prefer, Judy can arrange for you to speak to a worker you already know.


Please take the time to have your say - it will help to make sure that you and others are getting the services needed.

This consultation is not about the services at the hospital, health centre or GP’s. If you want to talk about these services Judy can let you know who you can talk to.

Contact Judy Sutton if you have any further questions; by phone 0161-273-2016  
 

FREEPOST address

Judy Sutton
Freepost- MR1514
Town Hall
Manchester
M60 2 BR  

More information - Information Sheet for people taking part

Questions form

Council's letter to people living with HIV and carers

Consultation poster

George House Trust and outside consultations
 

George House Trust is committed to involving HIV positive people in consultation work undertaken by Local Authorities, PCT and national bodies (such as the Department of Health). We are committed to this because we recognise the importance of having a strong service user voice within consultation work.

When we are involved in this work we want to make it clear that we have no control or influence over the outcomes of any particular consultation in which you, as somebody living with HIV may be involved.

  • We ask the people / organisation undertaking the consultation work to be clear from the out set what can and cannot be influenced by you as part of the consultation.
  • We also ask that the outcomes of the consultation work are made clear including feedback to participants in the consultation. 
  • Sometimes a member of staff from GHT may be asked to facilitate a particular event. They will always make clear at the beginning of the event that George House Trust has no control over the outcome of the consultation.


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