Healthwatch Advisory Board Member
Help to shape local health and social care services
Healthwatch Stoke (HWSTOKE) is delivered by Engaging Communities Solutions (ECS) CIC, a Community Interest Company that brings public engagement, consultation, and consumer advice services together in one organisation. ECS creates evidence and insight to support improvements in local health and social care services.
What is Healthwatch?
Healthwatch Stoke is independent of statutory organisations and the voluntary and community sector it works alongside. HWSTOKE performs public functions, delivers statutory duties, and receives public funding — a status recognised in law.
The core purpose of Healthwatch is to ensure that the views and experiences of local people shape the health and social care services they use. To do this effectively, Healthwatch must remain independent in its purpose, voice, and actions.
With public support and involvement, Healthwatch Stoke raises awareness of key issues, makes evidence-based recommendations, and works with service providers and commissioners to drive improvement.
About the Healthwatch Stoke Advisory Board
The Healthwatch Stoke Advisory Board is made up of volunteers who live in, or have a strong interest in, the local area. Members bring a wide range of skills, experience, and knowledge which, when combined, help support the ECS Board to ensure good governance in the delivery of Healthwatch Stoke.
The Advisory Board also monitors the delivery of the Healthwatch contract between ECS and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
Key Responsibilities of the Advisory Board
In line with the Decision Making Policy & Procedure, the Advisory Board makes decisions including whether to:
Escalate issues to Healthwatch England, the Care Quality Commission, or other regulators
Set priorities for Healthwatch Stoke projects and activities
Request information from commissioners and service providers
Publish reports or make formal recommendations
Undertake Enter and View visits and determine which services are visited
Refer matters to Overview and Scrutiny Committees
Report concerns about Healthwatch activities to other bodies
Approve any sub-contracting or commissioned work
Day-to-day administrative and internal office tasks are not part of the Board’s role.
All Board members adhere to the Nolan Principles of Public Life:
Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, and Leadership.
Time Commitment
Term of office: 2 or 3 years
Time commitment: approximately two days per month
Activities include:
Public Advisory Board meetings
Advisory Board development and business meetings
Representing Healthwatch Stoke at agreed strategic and partnership meetings
What is Expected of Members
As an Advisory Board member, you will be expected to:
Attend meetings and contribute local insight and experience
Develop a thematic interest (e.g. mental health, adult social care, children and young people, carers, volunteering)
Challenge papers and presentations constructively
Build links with partner and network organisations
Attend meetings regularly (three consecutive absences in one year may result in resignation unless extenuating circumstances apply)
Respond promptly to communications
Participate in training and development opportunities
Expenses
These roles are unpaid; however, reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred while carrying out approved Healthwatch duties can be claimed in line with the ECS Expenses Policy.