What are experts by experience?

Experts by experience are people who have direct experience of using a service.

Because they have used a service, they know what is good and what is bad about it.

They use their experiences to help makes things better.

How is their experience used?

My Life My Choice’s experts by experience are

helpingwith lots of different projects.

We are part of the team in CQC inspections.

We give a service user point of view in 2 different NICE guideline committees.

Alongside a family carer, we inspect Oxfordshire County Council

commissioned services as part of the Quality Checkers project.

We are members of the Oxfordshire Transforming Care Board.

Why use experts by experience?

We know what it is like to use a service.

We notice things that professionals don’t.

People who use services feel like they can be more honest with us.

We care a lot about making things better, because it affects our lives.

How can you use experts by

experience in your service?

Ask people who use your service to give feedback.

Take part in or create your own “Quality Checkers” inspections.

Have people who use your service on your Board.

Have people who use your services train your staff.

Pay people who use your services as consultants, to help your service improve.

Thank you to My Life My Choice for this weeks blog in easy-read format!