Situation
The Social Work Strategy (Phase 2), endorsed by the then Minister for Health Michelle O’Neill in October 2016, promotes a bottom-up approach to service development that values partnership between social workers, service users, carers, and communities
The Department of Health (DoH) recommended that each Health and Social Care Trust should establish Local Engagement Partnerships (LEPs). These partnerships provide a structured forum for collaboration between those who deliver and those who receive social work services, promoting co-production, shared learning, and continuous improvement in practice.
The SHSCT Local Engagement Partnership (LEP) exists to strengthen social work and social care practice and improve outcomes for service users, carers, and families through meaningful collaboration and co-production.
Covid impacted LEP within the SHSCT. Since Oct 2025, the aim has been to re-establish the LEP, creating a unique brand and identity, communicating both locally and regionally with key partners and making a difference for service users, carers and families.
Task
Our initial work was to develop and create diverse membership within the group, co designing an identity, terms of reference and communication matrix for engaging with key partners across services and with regional colleagues.
We then began to focus on outcomes, developing an ideas board and turning experience into solutions and outcomes.
Action
The LEP core group is co chaired by a SW Lead and Service User.
A logo has been designed and robust terms of refence developed.
We have reached out through a number of different forums to engage and share information about LEP i.e. presented at SW Forums and the importance of co production and lived experience.
Some of the actions to date have included:
Representation at Student events.
Working with service users in a day centre to develop life story book.
Worked with the SHSCT Communication Team to record a podcast for social work based on the theme of Hope and Harmony for World SW Day.
Represented LEP at the QI event – see attached for our poster.
We keep a LEP portfolio using Page Tiger as an outcome based accountability tool and celebrate excellence. This tool clearly highlights our journey, what work we have a achieved to date and vision to make a difference to social work and social care.
Result
There has been positive feedback from all members regarding how motivating and energised the group are and everyone feels listened to and respected.
The Podcast has been shared on various social media platforms and had many views.
Approx. 20 service users have created life story books and there has been positive feedback from service users, staff and family members.
