Better Community Engagement Training for Trainers Course

Day 1

This was developed as part of the Scottish Government’s Better Community Engagement Programme

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the Training for Trainers course participants will:

• Understand the concept of community engagement and why it matters• Understand the expected outcomes of community engagement and

how to measure them• Be aware of a range of methods that can be applied to conduct

effective community engagement processes• Understand and have access to a range of training materials and

resources which are designed to facilitate understanding of community engagement

• Conduct community engagement training and support activities in a range of contexts

• Be confident in their understanding of community engagement so that they can support others to use it

What are the National Standards for Community Engagement ?

Measurable performance statements for good community engagement

Launched May 2005 Built from community experience Designed by community and agency representatives Based on best practice principles Specific enough to guide actions Useable in different types of engagement Achieving highest quality practice Endorsed by key stakeholders and 3 national events

Defining community engagement

“Developing and sustaining a working relationship between one or more public body and one or more community group, to help them both to understand and act on the needs or issues that the community experiences”

Scottish National Standards for Community Engagement

What are the National Standards for Community Engagement ?

Involvement Support Planning Methods Working Together Sharing Information Working with others Improvement Feedback Monitoring and Evaluation

1.     Involvement:

We will identify and involve the people and organisations with an interest in the focus of the engagement

2.     Support:

We will identify and overcome any barriers to involvement

3.     Planning:

We will gather evidence of the needs and available resources and use this to agree the purpose, scope and timescale of the engagement and the actions to be taken

4.     Methods:

We will agree and use methods of engagement that are fit for purpose

5.     Working Together:

We will agree and use clear procedures to enable the participants to work with one another

6.     Sharing Information:

We will ensure necessary information is communicated between the participants

7.     Working with Others:

We will work effectively with others with an interest in the engagement

8.     Improvement:

We will develop actively the skills, knowledge and confidence of all the participants

9.     Feedback:

We will feed back the results of the engagement to the wider community and agencies affected

10.  Monitoring and Evaluation:

We will monitor and evaluate whether the engagement meets its purposes and the national standards for community engagement

Values and principles

Community engagement should be conducted with a focus on:

Equalities: explicit and evidenced Purpose: agreed, and success defined Structures: clear and fit for purpose Knowledge: shared and used Skills: developed and applied Capacity building: supports in place Information: accurate and timely

Legislative basis

“Community planning is essentially a process to secure greater engagement from communities in the planning and delivery of services”.

Local Government Scotland Act 2003

Community engagement: why we do it

Increased influence for communities Improved information for service providers ‘Joined up’ thinking across services More flexible use of resources

(Active Governance: the value added by community involvement in governance through local strategic partnerships’ Kath Maguire and Frances Truscott, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2006)

The Scottish Community Empowerment Action Plan

“When local people are actively engaged in tackling issues within their community, and in helping to realise the community's potential, those people are likely to have an increased interest in and engagement with the affairs of local government and indeed Government across the board.”

Scottish Government – March 2009

Best Value 2 Toolkit: Community Engagement

Applied as part of Best Value audits of public bodies and inspects performance of public bodies in relation to:

strategic commitment to community engagement understanding of community needs and aspirations involvement of communities in decision-making involvement of communities in planning and monitoring

community engagement demonstrating the impact and benefits of community

engagement

Audit Scotland 2009

The key purpose of community engagement practice

‘To develop influence and promote policy and implement practice which engages communities as partners in change’

‘Better Community Engagement – a framework for learning’, Learning Connections, Scottish Executive, 2007.

Participation Standard

‘We need to move, over time, to a more inclusive relationship with the Scottish People; a relationship where patients and the public are affirmed as partners rather than recipients of care.’

‘Better health Better Care’ 2007

Community engagement: why we do it

Increased influence for communities Improved information for service

providers ‘Joined up’ thinking across services More flexible use of resources

(Active Governance: the value added by community involvement in governance through local strategic partnerships’ Kath Maguire and Frances Truscott, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2006)

Discussion questions

Does this ‘fit’ with your understanding of community engagement?

Is this a useful way of describing community engagement and the policies that support it? If not, what could be done differently?

How would you define community engagement in your own words?

If you think community engagement is well supported in policy, how well do you think practice ‘matches’ these policy aspirations?

Approaching the community engagement task

Analyse - What is the purpose of the engagement? Analyse: determining the level and

purpose of engagement

Inform This means we are only going to tell people what we

plan to do. Consult

This means we will offer people restricted options to choose between.

Engage To take shared decisions - This means the community

will influence options and choices of action. To take shared action - This means the community will

share in any action taken. To support community led action - This means the

community will lead the action.

Participant Task 1

Working in pairs or small groups, think about a particular issue within the community which you are currently working in. There is a need/requirement to engage with the community around this issue – what would be the most appropriate level and why?

Plan: what difference do we want the engagement to make?

Outcomes are the changes that occur or the difference that is made for individuals, groups, families, organisations and communities

Outcomes answer the ‘so what?’ question! In the context of community engagement,

outcomes will normally relate to the process of consulting people or involving people in influencing decisions, or taking action on key issues that affect their lives

Participant Task 2

Working in pairs or small groups, identify 2 or 3 possible outcomes (the difference that you would want to make) in relation to the practice example you previously identified.

Plan – evidencing our impact as a result of the engagement process

Outcome indicators are measures that describe how well we are achieving our outcomes

They define the evidence (qualitative and quantitative) to be collected to measure progress and help us decide if our outcomes are achieved

Outcome indicators are our evaluation criteria set at the planning stage – so that we know how to judge success and we have the information or evidence to make that assessment

Participant Task 3

Working in pairs or a small group and building on the previous task, identify potential indicators in relation to each of your outcomes that will provide evidence for measuring whether outcomes are achieved. Think about how to build the process of collecting evidence into practice and procedures: the outcomes, the indicators, the method of collecting the evidence,

who will do it and when

Plan – what will we do and what methods will we use?

Outputs are the actions or activities we take to achieve the outcomes we seek.

Methods are the way in which we carry out the actions or activities and there are likely to be many actions or methods available to us

The important thing is to choose those most likely to achieve our outcomes.

Do – Example methods at each level

Inform

o Publish information on a leaflet/website/letter/poster

o Run an information event in the local community

Do – Example methods at each level

Consult Individual focus

Questionnaires Opinion polls Interviews Suggestion boxes On-line consultations Text messaging

Group/community focus•Buzz groups•Speed dating•Group interviews/focus groups•Nominal group process•Area forums•Citizens panels•Citizens juries•Open meetings/events

Do – Example methods at each level

Engage

Open meetings/events including: Open space, World café, PP vote/Option Finder

Stakeholder workshops

Story dialogue

Deliberative mapping

Planning for Real

Participatory drama/forum theatre

Participant Task 4

Working in pairs or small groups, use the ‘menus’ to select the best method that applies to your practice example.

Think about the resources you have to undertake particular methods and whether they can be delivered within your overall timescale

Participants Task 5 - carrying out the engagement

In pairs or small groups, consider the following questions in relation to your practice example, or what will now look like a ‘developing community engagement plan’. Think about:

What specific activities will we undertake and with whom? (outputs)

Who is responsible for carrying them out? (allocation of tasks) When? (timetabled plan) Do we need someone to take responsibility for overseeing plan

implementation? (accountability) How will this be reported and recorded? (collecting evidence as

we go)

Review – assessing the impact

Potential methods:• Questionnaires• Interviews• Observation – staff reports, minutes• Group structured feedback • Visual progress tools • Case studies• Third party feedback• Story dialogue• Participatory appraisal • (Video) diaries

Participant Task 6Review – how will we do this?

Working in pairs or small groups, discuss how you will conduct your evaluation process and activities.

Think about what the appropriate methods will be, who will conduct them, when and with whom?

Preparation for Day 2Elements of Peer Review

Regular objective feedback on performance

Feedback and suggestions on improving the quality of practice

Sharing of ideas and learning from colleagues

Development of own practice and service Identification of learning needs

Preparation for Day 2Homework! Or extra-curricular task….

Create an opportunity to provide training or support on community engagement for someone you work with. Formal – an organised training or support session,

team meeting or community group meeting agenda item

Informal – lunchtime chat with colleagues, talk to the cat??!!

Remember you will be asked to feedback on your use of materials or community engagement ‘experience’….

Thank you!

Any questions please contact…….

Please fill in your evaluation form – thanks!