Originally published 1 April 2008. This article is retained from the tCI archive. Law, policy or practice may have changed since publication.
Today sees the launch-date for LINks – the new mechanism for harnessing the views of individuals and organisations about health and social care in England.
So, somewhere today there will be a conversation that goes roughly like this:-
Is your group going to take part in LINks? (Hopefully the local version will have been branded more imaginatively.......!) ....Not sure; we’re still trying to figure out what it’s all about
It’s supposed to have influence on the NHS and on your Council ..... .....But they said that before, and we’re not sure if it made any difference....
I’m sure they’ll try hard to make your group welcome ...... ...But we’re very strapped for resources and we’re not convinced that the benefits will be worth the effort ......
Here is the nub of the consultation fatigue problem. It’s not that voluntary or community organisations don’t want to contribute their ideas – it’s just that when there are dozens of opportunities to do so, they will naturally lean towards those bodies that have a track record of listening to their views.
But what do we mean by “listening”? Do we equate this with saying yes to whatever we are advocating?
It is this win/lose mentality that gives consultation a bad name. It makes consultors wary of involving those who may be unenthusiastic about their proposals, and makes consultees cautious about investing time and treasure if their chances of winning a particular argument look slim. It also implies that positions are already entrenched and that the scope for compromise is limited.
On many occasions, that is simply not true. Provided consultation takes place at the right time – late enough for Managers to know the issues - but early enough to have an open mind on aspects of the solutions – there is considerable scope for creativity and imagination in finding policies and actions which accommodate the views of those who are most likely to be impacted. An over-emphasis on win-lose compromises the ability to look at problems objectively and to pursue new ideas by more effective engagement with such stakeholders.
Overview and Scrutiny Committees are a classic case in point. If they degenerate into yah-boo political slanging matches, defensive posturing or perpetual partisan electioneering, their value will be limited. If, on the other hand they can operate as joint problem-solving mechanisms, looking to see if there are better ways to meet the needs of their constituents, a far more positive scenario is possible. Consensus-based programmes are much more likely to succeed; they are less likely to be dismantled or emasculated if political control changes, and should in theory meet the objectives of otherwise rival factions.
Consensus does not emerge by magic; neither will it necessarily emerge at all. But there are tools and techniques which help, and one of these is effective consultation. Only through good consultation can one be sure that the full range of relevant viewpoints has been understood. And only then can the search for common ground begin in earnest.
A critical success factor for LINks – and for other consultation mechanisms – will be the extent to which they engage a sufficiently diverse range of opinion. For this we will need far better publicity and a concerted campaign to educate active citizens and their representatives about the role and potential of LINks. The prize is worth fighting for – a wider and more consensual basis for managing health and social care in each locality, and thereby a greater degree legitimacy and community support
That’s what they’re all about!
Trigger points
- Check up whether LINks in your area get up and running this week, or are you among the areas opting for the transition period. If so, work to ensure that the extra time is wisely used to build an even better network.
- Assess whether consultation output in your area is used effectively to seek consensus on key issues. Is there evidence that different views have been heard?
This is the 107th Tuesday Topic; a full list of subjects covered is available for Institute members and is a valuable resource covering so many aspects of consultation and engagement