About us
Healthwatch Bracknell Forest gives people a powerful voice locally and nationally. At a local level, we work to help people get the best out of their health and social care services - whether it's improving them today or helping to shape them for tomorrow. Healthwatch Bracknell Forest is all about local voices being able to influence the delivery and design of local services; not just for people who use them now, but anyone who might need to in the future.
What is Healthwatch?
Healthwatch Bracknell Forest is the independent consumer champion for health and social care in Bracknell Forest gathering and representing local peoples views about the health and social care services they receive. There is a local Healthwatch in every area of England. Find your local Healthwatch.
Healthwatch plays a role at both national and local level and makes sure that the views of the public and people who use health and social care services are taken into account.
What we do
Healthwatch Bracknell Forest collects and represents the views of people who use health and social care services, their carers and the public. We want to hear your experiences, what is good?, what can be improved?
Your views are anonymised and shared with providers, commissioners and decision makers to help shape services.
We provide information, advice and guidance on health and social care matters and direct you to existing services.
How we work
Every voice counts when it comes to improving health and social care services today or shaping them for the future.
Everything that Healthwatch Bracknell Forest does will bring the voice and influence of local people to the development and delivery of local services.
Healthwatch belongs to and reflects you and your local community. We are approachable, practical and dynamic and act on behalf of local people.
- We are helping you to shape and improve the services you use
- We are engaging with people in the community and if you have not met us yet, please get in touch!
- We are an open organisation and want to make it easy for you to talk to us
- We are inclusive and we want people from every part of the community to join us
- Ask us what we are doing and we will always tell you what is happening
- You can hold us to account
- We are here to help services to improve
- We will notice the things that need improving, and the good
- We use your evidence to build a true picture of your local services
How we are set up
Healthwatch Bracknell Forest is powered by a partnership of organisations with a user-led ethos. The partnership is made up of the following organisations and three public representatives, further information about each can be found by clicking on the links below which will direct you the organisations website:
The Ark Trust, a Bracknell Forest charity working with people with disabilities, long term health conditions and young people not in education, employment or training.
Berkshire Autistic Society, provide comprehensive services for all ages of people with autism, their families, carers and professionals working in the field.
Bracknell Macular Support Group, the local self-help support group. The group offer invaluable practical and emotional support to people with macular disease from people with macular disease.
EBE2, likeminded people carry out peer reviews for others with learning disabilities sharing experiences to improve services.
Just Advocacy, provide advocacy support to people who may find it difficult to be heard or speak out for themselves. This may include people with disabilities, older people, and those with mental health issues.
Kids, who work with disabled children, young people and their families.
Rethink Mental Illness, help people affected by mental illness by challenging attitudes and changing lives.
Wokingham and Bracknell District Mencap, support people with learning disabilities to live their lives as they choose.
Representation from groups working in Health and Social Care is always being considered. The board can also co-opt special interest groups for fixed periods of time if specific health and social care related issues are identified. If you feel that your orginistation would bring value to our Project Management Board then please get in touch.
Memorandum of Understandings and Protocols with our Partners
Community involvement
Comments, issues, concerns or complaints about our service
If your complaint is about one of our partnership organisations in the delivery of services outside of Healthwatch Bracknell Forest, please be assured that this will be treated in the same professional manner as any other. Should you not be happy with our response we will escalate you accordingly so that your issue can be independently resolved.
If your complaint is about Healthwatch Bracknell Forest in the first instance please contact chair of the Project Management Board by telephone on 01344 266 911. If you are not satisfied you can contact the Local Authority who commissioned the service and/or Healthwatch England on 03000 683 000.
If you would like to get involved, please do not hesitate to get in contact with us to discuss further.
Business Plan
Our business plan is located here.
Policies and Procedures
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes
All of our Project Management Board meetings are held in public, anyone is welcome to attend.
They are held every second Tuesday of each month, 14.30 to 16.30 at our office in Bracknell. Occasionally these maybe postponed or rescheduled, please contact us to confirm the meeting is taking place as planned.
If you are intending to attend please let us know prior to the meeting so that we can ensure the meeting has adequate seating and refreshments to accommodate you.
If you wish to raise a question at one of our public meetings, please submit this to us in writing 3 working days prior to the meeting. Even if you cannot attend you are welcome to submit us questions.
From time to time we may need to discuss confidential business or there could be another special reason that we will need to exclude the public from part of the meeting. If this is the case we will aim to do this towards the end of the meeting.
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes October 2016
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes September 2016
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes August 2016
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes July 2016
Project Management Board Meeting - June 2016 - No meeting.
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes May 2016
Public Meeting - Presentation Slides April 2016
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes March 2016
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes February 2016
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes January 2016
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes December 2015
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes November 2015
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes October 2015
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes September 2015
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes August 2015
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes July 2015
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes June 2015
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes April 2015
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes March 2015
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes February 2015
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes January 2015
Project Management Board Meeting December 2014 (No meeting)
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes November 2014
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes October 2014
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes September 2014
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes August 2014
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes July 2014
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes June 2014
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes May 2014
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes March 2014
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes February 2014
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes January 2014
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes December 2013
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes October 2013
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes September 2013
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes August 2013
Project Management Board Meeting Minutes July 2013
