For full details of the learning and support offer available for colleagues working with people and communities, please visit Start With People Future NHS page where there is access to a range of resources, tools and learning opportunities.

There is also a supplementary offer for those people working with or in a Primary Care Network role. Full details are at Partnership with patients, people and communities in primary care  and  PCNs and Practices Support Hub  which have additional information and resources.

Working with People and Communities to Improve Health Outcomes

We have recently launched a course around working with people and communities.

The course lasts for two weeks, but you can use a bite sized approach and complete it at your own pace. It looks at the language that we use, why it’s important to start with people, who faces barriers in the work that we do, and some of the barriers to partnership working which professionals can face and how they can be overcome.

The course is open to anyone working in health and care and beyond with an interest in expanding their knowledge in this area. 

If you are an NHS worker, you can get a fully-funded upgrade to gain a certificate.

Key highlights include:

Self service resources library

Resources include recordings of previous webinars, toolkits, test and learn projects, podcasts and audio presentations across a variety of topic areas including:

• Working with people with lived experience
• Engagement methods and practical skills
• Being inclusive and working with diverse communities
• Getting started and planning engagement
• Connecting with other people working in this space
• Policies and guidance on working with people and communities

Inspiring case studies

A library of examples, underpinned by the 10 principles of working with people and communities from the Statutory Guidance, 2022.

Online learning programme

This programme includes a range of engaging sessions that highlight good practice or share tools and approaches that will help on a practical level.  There is always an opportunity to ask questions and share experiences and we share the materials used.

If you’re wondering where to start, register for An introduction to working with people and communities where we share practical tools and resources on how to set up and build a practical toolkit to help when working with people and communities and explain why and how this approach improves health services.

We refresh the content of our programme regularly, adding in new topics that our colleagues tell us they would like. Examples include community centred approaches and asset mapping, using online tools for engagement, learning from coproduction and recruiting to PPV Partner roles.

One of the participants said:

“The introduction to working with people and communities webinar was extremely motivating. Having the opportunity to listen, discuss and share ideas is an invaluable resource. Keep doing what you are doing because it really does make a difference”

10 Steps to working with people and communities

The 10 Steps model sets out what needs to be considered when developing an engagement plan to help ensure meaningful and impactful work with people and communities. Working in partnership with patients and the public is one of the best ways to ensure our work meets the needs of our most important stakeholders, the people who use the NHS, and particularly those who stand to gain the most from health inequalities being tackled.

You can access the 10 Steps model as a stand alone resource or you can join one of our training sessions which uses the model as a planning tool and provides an opportunity to bring real projects to life by starting or further developing engagement plans. We offer this course as a full day with open access and we can also offer a more bespoke session for your team.

An example of a participant being inspired to bring about culture change in their organisation following participation on this course can be seen at how this training helped to bring about culture change

To register interest or talk to us about what would work well for you and your colleagues, contact england.ppve-learning@nhs.net

Colleagues also tell us:

“Brilliant day better person for attending”

 “Really enjoyed the different teaching methods very participatory.”           

“Really interesting, loads of good ideas to take away and use for our surveys and reports! Peer to Peer support can add not just new ideas but clarity”