Following your user involvement activity, it's extremely important that you produce a feedback report. If you're holding a range of activities on the same topic then it is helpful to collate the findings into one report.
Feedback report
The report tells the appropriate groups in your organisation what was discussed at the activity and the concerns service users raised in response to them, so they can then agree what action should be taken.
The report should then be shared with the participating service users. It shows you've taken their concerns seriously and it's an opportunity to feedback what action your organisation will be taking so that they see the impact their involvement will have. But don’t forget to mention those things that you can’t/won’t be taking action on, and the reasons why.
What to include in the report
Objectives
What was your service improvement goalAny shorter-term objectives for your involvement workWere your improvement goals met?
What you did to involve people
What went well?What might you do differently next time?
The impact of your work
Are you now more accountable for the way you make decisions?Has the work increased equality of access to decision-making or services?Has it encouraged to get involved again in the future as its seen as worthwhile?Have you formed new relationships with service users?What has been the impact on individuals?
Download atemplate for a feedback report(Word, 82KB) for a user activity group.
Why evaluate?
Evaluation of your activity is an important part of the user involvement process. You need to know if the work has been delivered effectively and the impact it has had on diabetes care in your area.
It will help you:
- Identify what works well and help think about how to do things differently in future.
- Demonstrate the value of user involvement to senior staff by showing how involvement is making a difference.
- Celebrate success and recognise achievements.
- Share learning and improve the planning of future projects.
If you have access to expert staff, you may be able to do a thorough evaluation.
Sharing lessons learnt
Once you’ve completed your evaluation, you’ll have a much better idea of how to make involvement happen. Make sure you ask yourself:
- How the lessons from the evaluation will be shared with colleagues in your organisation/the wider health system?
- How you can make sure people act upon your recommendations?
- How progress on your recommendations will be monitored and assessed?
- How you will do things differently for the next time you involve service users?
 Sharing your experience will help others learn as well as celebrate what you’ve done to make involvement happen.
