User involvement

The User Involvement programme at The Connection at St Martin's ensures our clients are able to make informed decisions, share their views and ideas, and influence decisions that affect their lives. We have a set time-table of regular client feedback forums for the different service areas, and aim to respond in full to client feedback within six weeks. This has led to many positive changes and new developments for our clients.

Our user involvement programme is supported by all staff. Its objective is to enable and support users and staff to interact in a manner that encourages positive engagement and change. The user involvement and the groups and activities programme seeks to create a culture:

• where clients are involved in and are part of the decision making processes about themselves and the services;
• where clients are involved in the resolution of the issues that determine their homelessness;
• that allows clients to see themselves positively, where they feel in control of their future, where they are able to develop positive new social networks, learn new skills and be able to imagine living in a different way.

The user involvement programme is essential to the provision of effective and good quality services.