At a glance

1:1 and group conversations

How good are you at taking care of your health? This is a single question being asked by Dorset Health and Care professionals, to better understand the knowledge, skills and confidence (‘activation’) of people in managing their own health. Evidence tells us that people with higher activation have better health outcomes. However, we wanted to know; ‘How do people feel about being asked this question’? ‘When would be the best time to ask the question’? and ‘What matters most to people being asked about their care’?

It was important to ensure we asked people from different communities and from people who would describe their own activation, from lower and overwhelmed, to getting better or very engaged and high. Four local organisations stepped forwards to help, and each organisation offered the freedom to use all methods to reach as many people as possible with the communities they worked with. This translated into views being heard from; mixed martial arts groups, tea and toastie drop-ins, creative writing groups, focus groups, social prescriber telephone calls, 1-2-1 care conversations, in-person and online questionnaires and a community shared meal.

Organisations valued; the flexibility to work with their communities through trusted people and places; to share and collaborate together and to report back simply on key lines of enquiry (‘curious questions’). This enabled the project to mobilise quickly and prioritised creating space to authentically seek people’s views. As a commissioner, this opportunity strengthened confidence, that by focusing on the outcomes, new and creative approaches would be discovered. The pace of delivery was valued and the quality of findings invaluable. We are now looking to share with people who gave their time and views, how findings will impact on local care design and workforce development.

About this approach

Useful for talking with

People in communities, including those experiencing health inequalities and with different access, experience and outcomes from using healthcare services.

People with different knowledge, skills and confidence in taking care of their health.

Mobilising conversations quickly through trusted relationships and the places people have confidence in.

Purpose of this type of conversation

To inform the design of care and services which meet the needs of diverse communities and consider how to minimise how people will experience inequalities in access and outcomes from service design.

Type of conversation

Mixed methods design, focuses on the ‘what’ not the ‘how’. Set the key lines of enquiry (‘curious questions’) and capture view seeking through a variety of methods, which meet the needs of people in the community. Consider health literacy and adapting approaches which recognised different, knowledge, skills and confidence in taking part. Use opportunities where people naturally interact with trusted people and places.

Training requirements

No formal training requirements, however, people view seeking should consider courses which grow their own knowledge, skills and confidence, for example on health literacy and personalised care. There are online courses and toolkits available for free through NHS England including the e-learning for health platform and Personalised Care Institute.

Budget requirements

The budget will depend on the scope and scale of the project. Each method may have different costs to deliver. You should plan for the provision of refreshments and travel expenses for participants. You may also wish to recognise participants time e.g. by offering a voucher. Appropriate resources are also essential for project planning, delivery (including venue hire if appropriate), analysis and communicating the findings.

Time commitments

This will depend on the scope and scale of the project. View seeking may be part of an existing project or may be a dedicated group or event, which requires additional time for planning, delivery and follow-up. Conversations may vary in length e.g. short telephone calls (30 mins), activities (1-2 hours) or as part of events which include other activities.

Community Conversations

Where we’ve used this locally

The Lantern Trust

Met and spoke with people at their regular drop in and offered ‘toastie and tea’ vouchers, held conversations with the weekly mixed martial arts group, and held a creative writing workshop.

Community Action Network (CAN)

We sought views through an online survey, 1-2-1 care conversations and ran a community event. They produced an explainer video and outreached through their networks to reach people from the Black and Minority Ethnic community, people with learning disabilities and older adults.

South Coast Medical Primary Care Network

We contacted patients aged 40-55 years old from the 20% most deprived wards in their neighbourhood and people from the Black and Minority Ethnic community. Social prescribers contacted patients by telephone and completed a structured questionnaire to collate views.

Help & Care

Offered focus group sessions in Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole for participants aged 28-90 years old, and an easy read visual questionnaire survey with people in contact with their service.

Community Conversations

Use this approach