Service User Involvment

Service user involvement - What is Service User Involvement?
(The term 'service user' can be seen as being quite negative...Washington Mind has discussed this and it was decided by our 'service users' that this term is acceptable to our 'service users').
Washington Mind aims to develop and deliver services that are based upon the needs of our service users. By becoming involved you can help us to deliver appropriate and worthwhile services that meet your needs and the needs of the community we serve.
Service users bring their knowledge and their experiences and play an invaluable part in shaping the mental health services that we provide. By becoming involved not only do you assist the organisation you can also increase your confidence and develop your skills.

How can I get involved?

Group Meetings
Group meetings take place monthly during drop-in sessions and are open to all Washington Mind service users, staff and volunteers. All are welcome to contribute to the meeting agenda and minutes of the meeting are displayed in the group room. Typical agenda items include:

Steering and Focus Groups
Our services are developed on an ongoing basis. Steering and focus groups are established to move forward particular projects e.g. the therapeutic group programme enabled people whose experience of attending group therapy and delivering group work to come together and to be involved in the development of our therapeutic group programme and a Quality group looking at policies and procedures enables involvement in the monitoring of the quality of the services we provide.

Executive Sub Group
Members of the Sub Group are volunteers who are current service users of Washington Mind. Sub Group meetings are scheduled prior to Committee meetings. Sub Group members are also invited to attend Committee meetings The role of the Sub Group is:

Newsletter Group
Washington Mind develops a newsletter that is circulated to our service users (past and present) as well as other organisations that provide services in the City of Sunderland.
You can join our newsletter group by contributing articles and other items to our quarterly newsletter.
To view a copy of our newsetter click here.

Volunteering Opportunities
Washington Mind seeks to involve volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities. We believe that the people who use our services can bring unique understanding and empathy to staff/volunteer roles and therefore encourage service users to apply for volunteering roles and opportunities.
All potential volunteers will be asked to attend an informal interview and be required to complete an enhanced CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) Disclosure Application and provide two referees. All volunteers will receive induction training and begin on a three month trial period. A staff/volunteer training programme is in place and training will be offered that is appropriate to the volunteering role. Both group and individual supervision is provided.

Training Opportunities
Washington Mind believes in providing appropriate training to meet the needs of our staff and volunteers and to assist with personal development. Training is provided on a rolling programme and this programme includes safeguarding, mental health awareness whilst also offering the opportunity to gain NVQ qualifications.
Service users and carers have provided training to staff and Volunteers; sharing their own experiences of living with mental ill health and/or emotional distress.

You may also want to look at our more detailed Training page.

How to provide your views on the services Washington Mind provides?

You can also get involved with national Mind by joining Mind link. There is information on Mind link on the national Mind website www.mind.org.uk

"the counselling...... made me feel valued and got me to open up and face the issues I had."