Consultation

Consultation is essential to:

• Improve Services - Services are for customers and must respond to their needs and provide what is valued
• Understand the demographic of those who use or access the service, and those who don’t

Consultation TIPS

Consultation can seem daunting but it does not have to be a mammoth task!

• Use previous (but recent) surveys
• Be resourceful – use surveys which have been completed by another service or partner but always reference the source of a consultation
• Consultation can be an emerging action from the EIA
• If you complete a consultation – store / share the data which has been collated. Use the Yorsay section to locate other consultations and to submit your own.

Before you consult…..

• Do you already know the answer to the question?
• Have you or someone else asked it before? If so, why ask it again?
• Be proportionate, if you believe consultation might harm the nature of your service is consultation necessary, are there other means by which you can get the same information?

Use the ‘Perspectives: How to make Consultation Accessible and Inclusive’ guide on the Intranet (see the useful information section) to identify:

• Who to consult
• Your method (s) of consultation
• How to make your consultation accessible
• How to use the results

Remember, feedback to those you consulted!