The session at the All Wales Residential Participation Network 2012 enabled participants to better understand how to use the National Principles for Public Engagement in Wales to evaluate engagement activities. Galluogodd y sesiwn yma yn Rhwydwaith Cyfranogaeth Breswyl Cymru Gyfan 2012 i gyfranogwyr deall yn well sut i ddefnyddio Egwyddorion Cenedlaethol ar gyfer Ymgysylltiad Cyhoeddus yng Nghymru i werthuso gweithgareddau ymgysylltu.

1. Alain Thomas
www.participationcymru.org.uk

2. Overview workshop
• Background to the Principles
• Definitions
• The National Principles for Public
Engagement
• What is Engagement?
• Implementation of Principles
• What does 100% success look like?
• Live case study
• Principles into Practice
• Next Steps

3. Background to the
Principles
Aim
To encourage good quality,
consistent engagement activity with
service users and the general public
by those who provide services

4. Background to the
Principles
• They are a set of national principles aimed at
statutory and third sector Public Service
providers
• Principles have been finalised following a
lengthy process of informal engagement and
more formal consultation
• They are overarching principles and not a ‘how
to guide’ on public engagement

5. Definitions
• Engagement – An active and participative process
by which people can influence and shape policy and
services that includes a wide range of different methods
and techniques
• Consultation – A formal process by which policy
makers and service providers ask for the views of
interested groups and individuals
• Participation – People being actively involved with
policy makers and service planners from an early stage of
policy and service planning and review

6. National Principles for
Public Engagement
1. Engagement is effectively designed to
make a difference
Engagement gives a real chance to influence policy,
service design and delivery from an early stage.

7. National Principles for
Public Engagement
2. Encourage and enable everyone
affected to be involved, if they so
choose
The people affected by an issue or change are
included in opportunities to engage as an individual or
as part of a group or community, with their views both
respected and valued

8. National Principles for
Public Engagement
1. Engagement is planned and delivered
in a timely and appropriate way
The engagement process is clear, communicated to
everyone in a way that’s easy to understand within a
reasonable timescale, and the most suitable method/s
for those involved is used.

9. National Principles for
Public Engagement
1. Work with relevant partner
organisations
Organisations should communicate with each other
and work together wherever possible to ensure
that people’s time is used effectively and efficiently.

10. National Principles for
Public Engagement
1. The information provided will be
jargon free, appropriate and
understandable
People are well placed to take part in the engagement
process because they have easy access to relevant
information that is tailored to meet their needs.

11. National Principles for
Public Engagement
1. Make it easier for people to take part
People can engage easily because any barriers for
different groups of people are identified and
addressed.

12. National Principles for
Public Engagement
1. Enable people to take part effectively
Engagement processes should try to develop the skills,
knowledge and confidence of all participants

13. National Principles for
Public Engagement
1. Engagement is given the right
resources and support to be effective
Appropriate training, guidance and support are
provided to enable all participants to effectively
engage, including both community participants and
staff.

14. National Principles for
Public Engagement
1. People are told the impact of their
contribution
Timely feedback is given to all participants about the
views they expressed and the decisions or actions
taken as a result; methods and form of feedback
should take account of participants’ preferences.

15. National Principles for
Public Engagement
1. Learn and share lessons to improve
the process of engagement
People’s experience of the process of engagement
should be monitored and evaluated to measure its
success in engaging people and the effectiveness of
their participation; lessons should be shared and
applied in future engagements.

16. Levels of Engagement
Engagement Model
Inform Listen/consult
We will tell you what we’re doing, advise you, answer We will ask questions, listen to your concerns and
questions, signpost information. suggestions, use your feedback to develop policy,
services and legislation.
Channels: website, media, campaigns, Channels: blogs, online forums, surveys, focus
publications, advertising, events/conferences, groups, consultation, public and 1:1 meetings,
telephone, email, face-to-face front-line feedback, stakeholder and citizen panels
Audience: citizens, stakeholders Audience: citizens, stakeholders, special
interest/representative groups
Involve/Partner Empower/Delegate
We will work together to design and deliver We will give you responsibility for making decisions,
policies and services, share decision making, managing resources and delivering policies and
maintain relationships. services.
Channels: workshops, advisory panels/committees, Channels: participatory budgeting, grant giving,
liaison groups, 1:1 relationships, citizens’ contracting, ballots
juries/forums, community toolkits, online forums/web-
chats, networks, 'doing the day job’ Audience: local authorities, health boards,
businesses, farmers, ASGBs, non-
Audience: citizens, local service boards,
governmental organisations, communities
spatial plan groups, partnership councils,
communities

17. Implementation of the
Principles
Self Evaluation Tool - 5 stages
1.0. Allocate responsibility and build capacity for evaluation
2.0 Plan the Evaluation of Engagement – define 100% success
-plan the Engagement Activities (operational team).
3.0. Implement the engagement activities (operational team).
4.0. Evaluate Engagement
5.0. Disseminate the findings

18. What does 100%
success look like?
Envisioning Activity

19. What does 100%
success look like?
Principle 1: Engagement is effectively designed to make a difference
- Participants clear from the outset about what the engagement is for and what
will happen.
- The individuals can say “my views do count”.
- Reduction/removal of apathy that has resulted from past poor consultations.
- Renewed enthusiasm about the consultation process.
- Service improvement based on the comments.
- Open communication from the beginning about what difference their
involvement with make
- Action – not just talking (embedded feedback).
- Knowing you’ve made a difference.
- Knowledge and awareness of service, limitations, resources and
practicalities.
- Service user choice, not options provided.
- Public feel valued. Views are being used in evidence.

20. Case Study

21. Principles into Practice
Evaluate Engagement
i. Gather and share information about the engagement
activities: what was done, the number of people engaged;
the range of stakeholders. Share insights about the process.
ii. Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment.
Discuss how your engagement activities sought to meet
each of the principles and how successful it was in doing so.
Be honest . Agree the key points. Take notes.
Use a simple five point scale to score how far you feel that
your engagement activity has achieved success in relation to
each principle.
Discuss the results of the scoring – take more notes.

22. Graded Scale
1. Engagement is effectively designed to make
Very Poor a difference
Average Good Excellent
Poor
1 2 3 4 5

23. Your Feedback
How would you
improve the process?

24. Next Steps
How can we help?
• PC networks
• Website and Newsletter
• Practitioner’s Manual
• Training
• Other organisations
• Evaluation toolkit – forthcoming 2012

25. Diolch
Thank you
www.participationcymru.org.uk