Network news

Read about our new volunteering programme, as Alvin Kinch, Volunteering and Regional (London) Network Manager, shares the support available from Healthwatch England for volunteers and their managers.

Help track the impact your work is making to increasing equality using this impact assessment template.

The NHS COVID-19 app has been launched to help notify users if they have come into contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19. Find out how you can support the campaign to get people to download the app.

From 23 September 2020, Government websites must meet new accessibility regulations, although the regulations are unlikely to apply to Healthwatch services, we have looked at the steps you can take to make your online information accessible.

After hearing from over 80 Healthwatch about how they've used digital tools since COVID-19 to engage with people online, we’ve put together some tips based on what you’ve told us and included learning from Healthwatch England too.

This guidance outlines how you can effectively plan your research and the areas that you will need to consider throughout your research project. 

Gavin Macgregor, Head of Network Development talks about why good governance and decision-making is important. He also outlines some of the challenges Healthwatch Chairs say they face running a Healthwatch.

If part of your role is the respond to calls from the public, take a look at three guides that outline how to structure a conversation, managing a difficult call and assessing safeguarding and risk.

This guide outlines how you should decide the issues you look at and how to set research aims and objectives.

We share free training and online courses which can be completed remotely by your volunteers.

Find out what the quality framework is, how you can get involved, and how it’s being used by local Healthwatch boards and leaders to improve their work.