Who we are and what we do
Our mission: We involve children, young people and families in making decisions together with the Trust so that services meet the needs of the community.
Our vision: Involving people is part of everyday practice in the Children and Family Services. All our services will be shaped and designed with children, young people and families to make sure we give the best care possible.
Participation is an umbrella term for any activity where children and young people are involved in developing our services. They have a right to participate in matters concerning them and as healthcare professionals we have a special obligation to ensure they have a voice, and that their voice is listened to. It is our responsibility to ensure children and young people are not only seen as beneficiaries but as key stakeholders of their health service.
- Develop future life skills such as, increased confidence, social skills, team work and communication
- Have a say on services you’ve used to make change happen
- Help shape services to suit the young people who use them
- Meet new people with similar interests and goals
- Great for College/University applications and CV
- Gain experience working in healthcare
There is significant evidence that healthcare that is produced by staff and children and families working together leads to better health outcomes overall. Services that are designed with people and therefore effectively meet their needs are a better use of NHS resources.
Your voice
“Participation has opened my eyes to lots of new opportunities as well as boosting my confidence and letting me meet new people.” Aimee, Youth Ambassador
“Participation group gives a voice to those who are desperate to make change in the system, in addition to making wonderful friends and working alongside a devoted team!” Lily, Youth Ambassador
"You get a say in how your healthcare is delivered to you!" Youth Ambassador
Getting involved
Youth Ambassadors are young people who are passionate about wanting to make a difference and help shape the future of NHS services to improve lives.
As a Youth Ambassador you would be involved in our Youth Voice Programmes advocating for young people’s voices.
As a Youth Ambassador you can be involved in lots of different things, some include:
- Participation Groups
- Focus Groups and Workshops
- Developing resources and materials
- Developing and delivering training
Young Recruiters help our services with recruitment and selection of staff. As a Young Recruiter you would interview candidates and let teams know who you think would be best suited to the role.
Young Inspectors (aged 14+) help us understand how to improve our services by joining us on our monthly service visits and sharing their thoughts and ideas. As a Young Inspector you might inspect the buildings, talk to staff, review resources or engage in a service activity.
Young Trainers is a specialist role for our experienced Youth Ambassadors. They support with our Youth Ambassadors, Young Recruiters and Young Inspectors training.
If you are interested in getting involved or have any questions, please contact us on hiowh.candfparticipationteam@