Recompense Policy (Lived Experience Ambassadors)

The Recompense Policy pays an hourly rate of £11.31.

• Development pathway; future training and development opportunities
• QI training; quality improvement training for QI activities
• Interview panel training; required before taking part in interview panels

Below are a list of roles that are paid for under the recompense policy.

• Chair of a meeting/training session or a co-facilitator
• Recruitment panel member
• Co-production for service improvement or transformation

Staff induction

Share your story and experiences of using health and social care services as either a patient, carer or service user, with our new staff at our Staff Induction, and help them understand and recognise the value of learning from your lived experience. Download the Staff Induction document. Contact us if you would like a copy posted to you.

Attending monthly Board Meeting for the urgent community response team, south east Essex

You will need to have experience of using community health services in South East Essex and be able to attend the meetings online via Microsoft Teams. The activity will involve sharing experiences of using community health services in South East Essex. Based on experience, advise the Head of Urgent Community Response Team (UCRT) Services and Programme Board what you think will and will not work locally; and how they can improve the quality of care that is provided and the experience of those using the services.

Checks

It is necessary for all volunteers and lived experience ambassadors to complete the required checks needed for their role or activity. The level of checks will be dependent on whether the volunteer/lived experience ambassador is working with vulnerable adults or children or on a supervised or unsupervised basis.

The checks consist of:

• References (Employment/Character)
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Certificate (in some cases)
• Occupational Health Clearance

Lived experience ambassadors who are in receipt of benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions should seek advice as to whether acceptance of the offer of payment will affect their benefit entitlements or pension. If receiving benefits or a pension the Trust strongly encourages obtaining specialist information on welfare rights advice on benefit or pension conditions before agreeing to undertake Involvement activities for the Trust. The Trust cannot advise on this.

It is the Lived Experience Ambassador’s responsibility to discuss and clarify this potential impact with their benefits or pension advisors and declare any payment and expenses received as necessary.

From people with lived experience agreement:

• If you are in receipt of benefits or a pension you should seek advice as to whether acceptance of the offer of payment will affect your benefit entitlements or pension. If receiving benefits or a pension the Trust strongly encourages obtaining specialist information on welfare rights advice on benefit or pension conditions before agreeing to undertake involvement activities for the Trust. The Trust cannot advise on this.
• It is your responsibility to discuss and clarify this potential impact with your benefits or pension advisors and declare any payment and expenses received as necessary.
• Reimbursement of your expenses should not affect your benefit entitlement (although this cannot be guaranteed) and we can provide you with written confirmation of your involvement as evidence, upon request.