NHS Lothian Health Inequalities Seminar The Community Empowerment

NHS Lothian Health Inequalities Seminar The Community Empowerment Approach in Scotland

Community-led Health Creating the conditions with an approach to improve health that supports communities experiencing disadvantage and poor health outcomes to: § identify and define what is important to them about their health § identify the factors that impact on wellbeing § take the lead in identifying and implementing solutions

Underpinning principles § § The most powerful agents of change are people themselves, everyone has something to give Our citizens, our communities, are our greatest assets, everyone has potential to make change Change through collective action is powerful and engagement in community life leads to more positive personal outcomes But, in terms of addressing health inequalities, direct intervention is required in communities experiencing long term disadvantage

In practice this means. . § Addressing needs, assets, priorities and agenda for change led by community and agreed with others § Working with people as community members not as individual members of the public § Focusing on disadvantage, exclusion and inequality § Promoting an empowerment approach to change § Promoting agency-community partnership § Promoting social model of health – especially the interaction with the medical model

The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 • Royal Assent on 24 th July 2015 • ‘Engaging, listening and responding to communities’ • Greater influence over community planning, local service provision, land buildings • Participation in local decision-making • Control over assets and resources

The Scottish Approach • Prevention in communities before problems arise • Coordination within and between services • Rooted in tacking inequality • Co-production – with communities for better services • Partnership with communities – of “place” & of “interest or identity” Christie commission on public services

Key parts of the Act • Community Planning - New duties on CPPs - tackling inequalities - Local Outcomes Improvement Plans & Locality plans • Participation Requests − Right to participate in outcomes improvement processes − Focus on reducing inequalities of outcome • Community right to buy land − Extension of rights in this area to include urban areas, derelict land, etc. • Asset transfer − Right to use, lease or own community facilities/amenities

Purpose of Participation Requests • Highlighting community needs, issues or opportunities • Involve people in change or improvement • Not intended to replace good engagement or participation • Opportunity for communities to establish a formal dialogue • For communities to pro-actively influence the agenda.

The Act - real opportunities • Community participation enshrined in legislation • Can no longer be dismissed as “non – statutory” • Addressing disadvantage and inequality – explicit within the Act • Support to communities to participate effectively • Specific duties on public bodies to deliver new rights to: • participation requests • shaping outcomes • extension of community right to buy • asset transfer

…and challenges • Act should augment not replace other engagement • Communities - evidence - mandate & contribution • Support required – particularly to disadvantaged communities • Expectations – of communities and agencies • Broader definitions of community – harder to deliver • Appeals & Enforcement – varies across the Act

Making it work • Most supportive participation framework to date • Part of a process of democratic renewal • Will need a huge culture change in agencies and services • And independent support for equal citizen participation • Without support resources – inequality could be worse And now its up to all of us to make it happen!

Useful information • For further information about SCDC or CHEX contact: • Susan Paxton at 0141 248 1924 • Email: susan@scdc. org. uk • For further information about the full range of SCDC & CHEX programmes and activities visit our website at www. scdc. org. uk www. chex. org. uk • Latest briefing on the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act http: //www. scdc. org. uk/news/article/scdc-briefing-community-empowermentscotland-act/ • Briefing on Participation Requests http: //www. scdc. org. uk/media/resources/policy-andpractice/SCDC%20 briefing%201 -16%20 on%20 participation%20 requests. pdf • Updated information on the implementation of the Act at www. gov. scot/Topics/People/engage/Community. Empowerment. Bill. FAQs