CQC on the hunt for ‘Experts by Experience’ to take part in inspections

The is looking for people, who have experience of using or caring for someone who uses health or social care services, to take part in inspections.

Known as ‘Experts by Experience’, these people also monitor the use of the Mental Health Act and take part in consultations and staff training.

The CQC is seeking to work with a range of ‘Experts by Experience’ from the following backgrounds. This includes people in the early stages of dementia, family carers of people with dementia, older people who use health and social care services and people who have a learning disability or a physical and/or sensory impairment.

They are also looking for people who have experience of using mental health services and people with experience of detention under the Mental Health Act.

The CQC is also looking for suitably experienced organisations wishing to provide support for its Experts by Experience programme in England from 1 April 2014. CQC would also like to hear from organisations on how it could work with offenders who are using care services.

CQC is encouraging bids from a range of organisations who have specialist knowledge of working with people from the above groups.

The Commission would also be happy for organisations to collaborate and submit ‘consortium’ bids, and it will help to facilitate this by sharing a public list of organisations who are interested in the work and in becoming part of a consortium.

For more information go to http://www.cqc.org.uk/public/sharing-your-experience/involving-people-who-use-services/experts-experience-procurement