Power to the peer reviewers
Warwickshire residents, from all walks of life, have recently qualified as reviewers of health and social care services.
Warwickshire County Council has supported 23 local people, who have experience of using services themselves, to become independent ‘Peer Reviewers’. The group, which includes older people, family carers and adults with a physical disability, took part in accredited training provided by Coventry University.
To recognise their achievement in acquiring peer reviewer status, the group were recently invited to the county’s adult social care headquarters in Warwick, where Strategic Director Wendy Fabbro presented certificates to the successful students.
Wendy Fabbro said: “We cannot underestimate the importance of our new peer reviewers and the contribution they will make in improving and shaping services for the future. We now have a team of skilled individuals, who are generously offering us the benefit of their huge experience, to independently review services across adult social care and health.”
“The development of the peer reviewer programme is another aspect of the council’s transformation of adult social care which sees the people who use services at the heart of what we do.”
Some of the peer reviewers are already embarking upon their first assignment and will be working in partnership with the Warwickshire Local Involvement Network (LINk) visiting a number of residential and nursing homes across the county to talk to residents and relatives on their experiences of dignity and respect within a care home setting.