Members of the National Involvement Network (NIN) have been working with ARC Scotland and Evaluation Support Scotland to evaluate what difference the Charter for Involvement has made to peoples lives. They have produced an interim report.

1. The National Involvement Network
Interim Evaluation Report
January 2012
This interim report gives results from questionnaires sent to CEO’s
and others who have ‘signed up’ to the Charter for Involvement.
Members of the National Involvement Network, who are all people
who get support, have led this evaluation.
Outcome:
We are more active in making Five people said that the Charter has only made
a little difference because they already had good
the organisation that supports levels of involvement.
us better “(The organisation) has and did have a strategy
prior to the NIN. However I think the difference will
Q. How much difference has be in the future in helping sustain participation
in our tenants and service users are linked to an
the Charter made to how your external framework for monitoring.”
organisation is run? “We had a level of involvement and aspiration to
improve this, the charter acted as a catalyst.”
10 Other people gave examples of:
9
4 Involving people in writing policies
Number of Respondents
8
(6 organisations)
7
6
4 Involvement or membership of their Board of
management
5
(5 organisations)
4
3 4 Evaluating services and involvement in staff
2 reviews
(4 organisations)
1
1 2 3 4 5 4 Recruiting and training staff
(4 organisations)
Score (1 = none, 5 = a lot)
4 Improved accessibility
(4 organisations)

2. Q. How many people has the Outcome:
Charter made a difference to?
We are more able to make
At least 1750 people who use services have
been affected by the Charter. We did not decisions about our lives
get figures from everyone so the real figure
is probably a lot more. Some organisations
support just a few people, others support
Q. How much do you think the
over 1000. Five organisations said that the Charter has helped people to be at
Charter has made a difference to everyone
in the organisation.
the heart of plans about their lives?
10
Q. How much do you think Number of Respondents
9
8
the people that you support 7
6
should be involved in how your 5
organisation is planned and run? 4
3
2
10
1
9
1 2 3 4 5
Number of Respondents
8
Score (1 = none, 5 = a lot)
7
6
People gave us good examples of how the Charter
5 had helped their organisation:
4
3 ‘We now have an outcomes framework and tool
2 to be used by people we support. People are
1 involved in quality checking their services.’
1 2 3 4 5
‘We are rolling out person centred plans for
Score (1 = none, 5 = a lot) everyone in the organisation who wants one...
Our website is currently being redesigned to
We can’t be sure this is because of the include the people we support and make it more
Charter. A big part of the Charter is the accessible to people with a learning disability’
organisations should work with the people
they support to make and Action Plan ‘It has raised expectations of involvement in
for improving involvement. 10 of the 14 meetings and decisions, (but) this has not yet been
organisations had done this. universally embraced.’

3. Q. Has the Charter Outcome:
helped people to be more
involved in choosing their We are more skilled and confident in
support workers and staff? speaking up for ourselves and others
12
11
Q. How much do you think the Charter
10 has helped people to be more involved in
Number of Respondents
9 community, campaigning and speaking up
8
7
in groups?
6
5 10
4 9
3
Number of Respondents
8
2 7
1 6
Yes No 5
Score 4
3
We were given good examples of
2
ways that people are more involved
1
in choosing staff
1 2 3 4 5
4 Involving people who receive Score (1 = none, 5 = a lot)
support on recruitment panels
(5 organisations)
We had examples of activities But organisations also wanted
people were involved in: to tell us about the Charter:
4 Training people in recruitment
(3 organisations)
‘More involvement in Quality ‘I think the charter has
Group…Co-facilitating and helped many people get
One told us they had done this for a
participation in consultation more involved but we still
long time, but they were glad it was
sessions’ have a long way to go across
in the Charter. Three organisations
the sector.’
said that they could still do more to
‘A group now goes out giving
involve people in choosing staff.
talks to interested groups ‘The more organisations who
about our work… speaking get involved in supporting
One organisation said that they
at award ceremonies; some people to speak up – the
would have improved it anyway:
external training for QMU greater impact on individual
“Again this is something we tried to
students.’ groups.’
improve despite the charter but we
are getting better.’
‘It has added weight to the
argument for greater inclusion,
However, another felt the Charter:‘
but there hasn’t been a
Has brought the issue to the fore and
marked increase in involvement
it has been prioritised because of that.’
in new areas/activities.’

4. Finally: We got some positive feedback
We asked people to comment 4 ‘It is a good document model for good
practice.’
on the Charter and to give
ideas for how to make the 4 ‘It’s supporting us, to ensure that we always
involve the people who use our services.’
Charter better.
4 ‘The Charter is a brilliant template for
organisations on the inclusion journey.’
We were given two suggestions:
4 ‘It is an excellent initiative, driving the right
values.’
1. Have wider national recognition of 4 ‘The Charter has been very useful in helping
and involvement with the Charter us to think more clearly about involvement
and involving people at the earliest stage
‘The Charter has all the ingredients if requires.
possible.’
It would be great to get it formalised nationally
through the Care Inspectorate.’
And some comments that will
2. Ask people who get support what help us to improve the Charter:
they think about it
‘I think it will be important to check in people
! ‘Have not had any communication at all
getting services periodically to ensure momentum
from the charter since we signed up to it.’
is maintained.’
! ‘It has been difficult in such a large
organisation to promote the Charter and
Thank you to everyone who has been ensure the messages have got across.’
involved in this evaluation so far. Our next
step is to meet people who get support
! ‘It would be good to have a sense of being
involved in a wider network of Charter
and find out what difference they think the
followers nationally.’
Charter has made to them. The final report
will be ready in May 2012. Please let us
know if you would like a copy.
ARC Scotland: 13 Hardengreen Business Centre, Eskbank, Dalkeith, Midlothian EH22 3NX
T: 0131 663 4444 | E: arc.scotland@arcuk.org.uk | www.arcuk.org.uk/scotland
Supported by
The National
Involvement Network
Charter for Involvement