We work on a community or neighbourhood basis, often linked into mainstream regeneration planning to identify needs and plan services for vulnerable people. This work includes developing local engagement and partnerships to develop a social inclusion approach to vulnerable groups to ensure that they do not experience social exclusion.
In some areas this work is closely linked into Supporting People Strategy development.
In other areas the focus is much more on a citizenship approach, for example for older people, to ensure they can sustain health and well-being in older age.
We have considerable experience of community development approaches and of using participatory appraisal methods to involve both the public and service users, including people and communities from black and minority ethnic groups.
We usually undertake consultation work directly with the public and service users as a mainstream part of our commissions.