Healthwatch · capitalEsourcing (Dec 2021)

Westminster City Council and Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) is recommissioning a bi-borough Local Healthwatch Service from April 2022.

There is a statutory requirement that all local authorities commission local Healthwatch services in their areas in line with The Health and Social Care Act 2012. This legislation guides local authorities to support Healthwatch services to become independent, charitable organisations.

The aim of this service is to protect the interests of service users in the context of health and social care provision across both boroughs by:

• Co-ordinating and contributing views of the wider community on their experience and needs of local health and social care services with commissioners and providers of health and social care services
• Representing community, patient and service users views on Health and Wellbeing Boards
• Promoting and supporting the involvement of residents and service users in monitoring and commissioning of health and social care services
• Providing information and advice to the public about accessing health and social care services and on choices available within integrated health and social care offers
• Contributing views and experiences of residents and communities to Healthwatch England to support its’ role as a national champion
• Submitting recommendations to Healthwatch England on undertaking special reviews or investigating areas of concern

As a membership based service, it will empower and represent the diverse communities and residents across both boroughs to contribute their views and experiences in commissioning, planning and delivery of health and social care services. This contribution will ensure communities and residents can access the right services based on what they need.