New: Foundation Inclusive Communication Toolkit – Enabling easier communication between people and services.

Engaging people with lived experience: best practice, challenges, and opportunities (Full Report)

Last Updated
17 December 2025
Source
Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (commissioned by Democratic Society)

Resource Tags

Content Types:

Guidance Report

Relevant Driver(s):

1. Strengthening leadership 4. Using evidence and experience 5. Enhancing capability and culture

Specific Action(s):

1A. Take a strategic approach to equality and human rights 4A. Collect and analyse equality data consistently 4B. Engage with lived experience and work meaningfully with communities 4C. Share learning and best practice 5A. Put in place comprehensive training programmes 5B. Promote cultural initiatives

Implementation Levels:

Advanced

Prior Knowledge Required:

Intermediate

Organisation Size:

Large Medium Small

Sector:

Health and social care

Role:

Equality/Diversity/Human Rights Specialists Policy Officers/Makers Senior Leaders/Management Training & Development Staff

Resource content

A research report examining how to meaningfully involve people with lived experience in health and social care decision-making. Includes desk research, workshops with lived experience participants, feedback questionnaires and policymaker interviews.

To get the most from this resource

Getting Started Guide:

Week 1-2: Senior team review executive summary (pages 1-3) and recommendations (pages 47-49)
Month 1: Use Table 4 best practice framework to audit current approaches
Month 2-3: Select relevant case studies for pilot engagement project
Month 4-6: Implement pilot using methodology from pages 5-13

For Non-Healthcare Sectors:

Education: Focus on student voice elements and community engagement approaches
Local Government: Emphasise community consultation and citisen engagement aspects
Private Sector: Adapt stakeholder engagement principles for customer/employee consultation

Quick Reference Tools: Extract key principles from pages 11-17 for manager training. Use case study format (pages 14-41) as template for documenting your own engagement activities.

View Resource

Was this page helpful?

If you need help or support you can email us at ehrmainstreamingtoolkit@gov.scot

Secret Link