It has
long been recognised that service-users have a right to be part of the decisions that affect their treatment
and service-provision.
Set-up in 1993, USS was in
the forefront of this move to ensure service-users at whatever stage in their recovery had a part to play
in the planning, auditing, monitoring and commenting upon services within Northamptonshire.
The Service-user Reference Group (SURG), chaired by Brendan
Macken and made up of volunteers, meets monthly to direct this work and your input would be very welcome. You don't
have to be qualified - you just need to be passionate about wanting to improve things within Mental Health provision.
Members of SURG
had a hand in designing the Welland Centre in Kettering and are involved in the new-build scheme at the Pendereds in Northampton.
A number of them are also trained interviewers for nursing and management positions for Northamptonshire Healthcare Trust.
They are also active in groups that discuss issues such as Acute Care, Patients' Experience, Complaints Reviews, Older
People's Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and many more.
Click on the "Current Opportunities" link at
the side of this page to find out what is available at the moment.
