Young Assessor of health services

What do they do?

The Department of Health have set out some criteria called 'You're Welcome', to make all health services used by young people aged 11-19  young-person-friendly. 'You’re Welcome' sets out ways of making it easier and a better experience for young people to use health services. It covers eight areas:

• Accessibility - how easily can you find out about the service and get to it
• Environment
• Confidentiality & consent
• Publicity
• Joined-up Working
• Monitoring and Evaluation, and the involvement of young people
• Health issues for adolescents and staff training
• Attitudes and values

'You're Welcome' also covers Sexual and reproductive health services, and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Think about the health services you might use: your GP, your dentist, the school nurse, your local contraceptive and sexual health service, or if you have specific health needs, maybe your diabetes nurse, or specialist doctor.

Are you happy with the way these services are run, from the way that the receptionists greet you, the leaflets and information on offer, right down to the times that these services are open? Is there something you don’t like, or you wish people could do differently? This is your chance to make that change.

It is your right to be listened to

Don’t forget that you can be involved in shaping health services everyday by making sure that you let someone know if you are unhappy or happy with a health service. Look out for comment cards on GP reception desks, websites or numbers to call if you have a complaint or compliment to make.

About the role

The main aim is to find out how good your health services are, using your expertise as a young person. We'll ask you to visit them and find out.We need to check that  health services are walking their talk about being young-people-friendly, and what they say  matches up to what they actually do. This is called "verification". We will help you develop the skills to become a 'You're Welcome' Young Assessor and be involved in the verification of your local health services. You will be trained to become a 'known shopper', or to take part in a panel or a visit to find out whether a service deserves to be awarded with 'You’re Welcome' status. 

You will be supported all the way through. Support can include:

•  joining a young people’s involvement group led by your local participation leader
•  talking to a ‘buddy’ from another area who has experience in being involved in You’re Welcome
• training to be involved (and put on your C.V.)
• support to go on visits
• support to write up reports
• support to feedback your findings

Travel

Everyone gets there using public transport or getting a lift. If you have serious difficulties with transport we can help arrange something for you. 

Payment

This is a voluntary opportunity: you get lots of useful training and skills, and lots of support.

How to apply

Contact Emily Chaundy on (01865) 256676, email emily.chaundy@oxfordshire.gov.uk, or look her up on her own Facebook page