In the past year, thanks to funding from Sussex Health and Care Partnership and Brighton and Hove City Council, SIS has become more actively involved in Community Research which has enabled our Service Users to be involved and have a voice in public service consultations.
This work has taken a variety of forms;
5 bilingual community researchers recently completed a research project looking at Attitudes to Cancer Screening in different communities. They went on to present their findings at an on-line conference attended by 100s of health care professionals.
Linguists have formed focus groups to look at specific issues e.g.;
- In May 2022, 12 linguists discussed the NHS Post Covid Assessment and Support Service (PCASS) which helps people suffering from “long covid” to help make it more accessible to our Service User group
- in June 2022, 12 linguists discussed the impact of the pandemic on our communities health and what we think the NHS priorities should be moving forward. The resulting report has been submitted to Brighton and Hove CCG
Community Researchers have interviewed Service Users, with lived experience, to help them contribute to public service consultations about
- mental health and housing services (in partnership with Healthwatch)
- remote access to GP services
- how service users get information and access to public services
2 linguists are attending monthly meetings to support the development of Virtual Health Care Services (which includes provision of care at home as an alternative to hospital).
Another linguist represented our communities at a regular Stakeholder Reference Group meeting to discuss Planned Care.
10 linguists contributed to our Digital Divide Survey by completing 65 surveys with their service users about their access to and use of digital technology and internet services. The outcome of this survey will help SIS direct the focus of our service development.
One of these linguists has gone on to represent SIS and our service users at a series of workshops to help Brighton and Hove CIty Council develop their Digital Inclusion Strategy for the city.
We are really excited to continue with this important work.
