DISABLED people have the chance to play a key role in inspecting healthcare services across Berkshire thanks to a partnership between a disability charity and the Care Quality Commission. 

The Enham Trust, a charity supporting people with a range of disabilities, is looking to employ and train people to become Experts by Experience and join inspectors on their visits to judge the quality of care at GP surgeries, care homes and clinics.  Currently with around 100 volunteers trained, the trust want more people to sign up after they were awarded a contract by Remploy, a leading provider of employment services for disabled people.

Peta Wilkinson, CEO of the Enham Trust, said: "We are committed to giving individuals the independence, choice and control they deserve. This mission underpins everything we do, and our work with Experts by Experience will further help to make a positive difference to the people who need it most.

“They will add first-hand experience and expertise to inspection teams and Mental Health Act visits to improve the outcome of social care service inspections."

Volunteers will carry out inspections of health and social care services alongside Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors and Mental Health Act commissioners to provide their unique insight and perspective into the services.

Tommy Snipe, 23, started as an Expert by Experience in April this year and is diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder, depression and ADHD.

He said: "A typical inspection can include talking to patients, making observations of services and giving feedback to the inspectors on our findings. I find that inspectors give you a lot of responsibility as an expert and really respect your opinion; your presence on an inspection isn’t just tokenistic.

"To me, being an expert has allowed me to have a positive impact on the health services that we all use and to make sure they are doing the best for those they are serving. I feel that having people who have real-life experience of these services helps to promote best practice and I am glad I am able to use my experiences to really make a difference."

To learn more contact the Enham Trust on 08451 307 504 or visit www.enhamtrust.org.uk/exe