SERVICE-USER INVOLVEMENT

FELICITY RUNCHMAN - SERVICE-USER INVOLVEMENT WORKER

As CASA's Service-User Involvement Worker I facilitate CASA service-users in putting their views and opinions about CASA forward. I ensure these are heard and considered by senior staff here, with a view to helping the organisation provide the best possible service to meet its service-users' needs. Where relevant, and with the help of dedicated service-user representatives, John and Fergal (go to user-representative page), I also seek to get important service-user issues carried forward to ICDAS (Islington Clients Of Drug And Alcohol Services). This puts the CASA service-user voice across to those who make key decisions about how alcohol services in the area are run.

One of my main motivations is helping to make the experience of being a CASA service-user enjoyable, purposeful and rewarding - possibly a means of learning new skills or re-accessing old forgotten ones. Alongside running the CASA service-user forums (see below for more details), I assist service-users in setting up new initiatives such as support and social groups, and in accessing local training. In the near future I'll be starting up a working-group on the topical issue of 'personalisation'. Please watch this space and let me know if you have any fresh ideas or would like to get more involved.

I work Wednesday afternoon, Thursday & Friday and can be contacted at felicity.runchman@casa.org, through the suggestion boxes in CASA offices, in person or, on 020 7428 5955