Involving children and young people in health service engagement

In health service engagement, we often ask people and communities to share their experiences and opinions about our ideas and plans for the future of NHS services. Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), which fund, plan, and commission NHS services, have a legal duty to involve people and communities. Engagement and consultation are enshrined in law, specifically in Section 242 of the 2006 NHS Act and the constitution of ICBs. 

Beyond legal requirements, it simply makes sense to listen to service users and the public. Their insights help us develop services that are well-designed, effective, efficient, and meet people's needs. 

For long-term health service planning, engaging children and young people is crucial. They are the future recipients of these services, and involving them fosters a sense of belonging and ownership, ensuring their voices are heard in matters affecting their lives. We can future-proof our plans by involving children and young people as much as we do with the rest of the population. 

In April 2024, the Association for Young People’s Health published a scoping review on youth engagement in NHS service delivery and development. Authors Wortley and Brady found widespread support for child and youth participation but noted a lack of clarity on what is actually being done in practice and the evidence for good practice. They highlighted the need for more documentation and analysis of impact, as truly empowering models of participation are rarely documented. 

At Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), we and our partners have been actively working to enhance the engagement of children and young people. Our Children and Young People team has embraced the Lundy Model as part of our improvement work. 

Earlier this year, the ICB's public involvement and engagement advisory committee (PIEAC) reviewed its work and explored ways to better assure the Board about the organisation’s efforts in engagement, involvement, and co-production. One idea was to share and spread good practice with colleagues, the workforce, and partners across the health and care system. 

In September, we hosted an engagement and good practice webinar, showcasing our partners' work in Blackpool. Healthwatch Blackpool shared their impactful engagement with children and young people who use e-cigarettes and vapes, a rising problem in the area. Their actionable insights led to a co-produced awareness campaign with measurable impact.  Blackpool Council also shared their experiences of co-production and lived experience, focusing on engaging children and young people to support the Blackpool Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Inspection.  

You can watch the webinar featuring these excellent examples of engagement with children and young people. If you prefer, you can listen to an audio file instead.

Special thanks to Alex Lever, Engagement Lead, and Abi Lee, Projects and Involvement Manager at Healthwatch Blackpool, and to Aviel Lowndes, Co-production Practice Lead, Sarah Wells, Co-Production Practice Lead - SEND, Julie Clarke, Engagement Worker, and Kieran Tait, Young Sessional Worker.