Through Cygnet Social Care’s new Quality Guardians initiative, 21 residents living with learning disabilities, autism or neurological care needs will help assess services, share their experiences and identify opportunities to make everyday life better for themselves and their peers.
Crucially, the audit they will use has been developed by Cygnet Social Care residents themselves, ensuring the initiative focuses on what matters most to the people w+ho call these services home.
For Johnathan, who is supported at The Orchards in Essex, becoming a Quality Guardian is an opportunity to make a difference to others.
He said: “I believe that every voice should be heard and that’s why I became a Quality Guardian. I love doing this because it gives me a sense that I can help people.”
Likewise for Cameron, a resident at Oaklands, this is an opportunity to develop his skills and connect with others.
He said: “I’m excited to meet new people, make friends and share our experiences together!”
On 10 November, the 21 residents were formally appointed into their new role at Cygnet’s London-based head office, where they met with members of the executive team, and Ryan Hartnett, Cygnet Social Care Operations Director for the East of England and the North, who is heading up the new initiative.
He said: “Our Quality Guardians initiative is about putting residents in the driving seat when it comes to the quality of the support they receive.
“Quality should never be something that is done to people; it should be shaped with them. The people we support are the experts in their own lives, and their experiences can tell us things about our services that no other form of feedback can.
“By giving residents an active role in reviewing services and identifying where improvements can be made, we are making sure their views are not simply heard but can help shape decisions and drive positive change across Cygnet Social Care.”
The Quality Guardians will carry out audits across services in their regions twice a year, drawing on their own experiences to identify what is working well and where things could be better.
The audit has been developed by Cygnet residents, ensuring the review focuses on the everyday details that matter to people living in the services, and giving residents a direct role in helping shape improvements for their peers.
Covering everything from how welcome residents feel when they arrive to the food and drink available to them, the audit looks at the everyday details that shape residents’ experiences of living at a service.
Questions include: “Does the house feel homely and comfortable?”, “Can you shop and cook for yourself if you want to?” and “Is there an activity you would like to do that is not available?”, giving residents the opportunity to highlight what is working well and where changes could improve their experience.
Their recommendations will then be shared with the Service Manager, who will develop an action plan based on the findings. The Quality Guardians will also have the opportunity each year to present key findings and wider themes directly to Cygnet Social Care’s leadership team.
Ryan added: “As well as helping improve services for others, the Quality Guardians role gives residents the opportunity to develop new skills, take on responsibility and build confidence in sharing their views.
“It recognises that people with learning disabilities, autism and neurological care needs have valuable perspectives to contribute and that they should have meaningful opportunities to influence the services and decisions that affect their lives.
“We want our residents to know that their views matter and that they can make a real difference. The Quality Guardians will help us see our services through their eyes, challenge us to keep improving and ensure that the experiences of the people we support continue to shape the way we work.”
The new Quality Guardians initiative for Cygnet social care builds on Cygnet’s wider commitment to co-production, ensuring people with lived experience have opportunities to contribute to decisions about their support and the development of services.
Across its health care services, more than 50 Expert by Experiences (those with lived experience of inpatient mental health settings) make more than 1,000 visits each year to hospitals, ensuring the voices of current service users is heard and acted upon.