Standards

A set of five Standards outlines what is expected from Health and Social Care (HSC) organisations and staff in relation to personal and public involvement, and were developed in partnership with service users, carers and the community and voluntary sector. They were formally endorsed by the Department of Health in 2015. Click on each Standard to find out more information.

Setting the standards

Standard One - Leadership

Standard Two - Governance

Standard Three - Opportunities and support for involvement

Standard Four - Knowledge and skills

Standard Five - Measuring outcomes

Policy

PPI was first introduced as a concept by the Department of Health in 2007. The Department has issued the following guidance to support the implementation:

HSC (SQSD) 29-07 – Guidance on Strengthening Personal and Public Involvement in Health and Social Care

HSC (SQSD) 01-12 – Personal and Public Involvement – Regional Protocol on Exceptional Circumstances for Consultation Schemes

HSC (SQSD) 03-12 – Guidance for HSC Organisations on Arrangements for Implementing effective Personal and Public Involvement Policy in the HSC

What the law says

HSC organisations have a legal duty to involve and consult with service users, carers and the public in relation to:

the planning of the provision of care;
the development and consideration of proposals for changes in the way that care is provided;
decisions that affect the provision of care.

This was introduced in Northern Ireland as part of the HSC (Reform) Act (NI) 2009.

Other relevant reports

Involvement in Health and Social Care is gaining momentum. Check out the relevant reports below, which highlight the necessity of involving service users, carers and the public.