Expert by Experience Herefordshire Programme

Your views, your influence, your experience

Experts by Experience are involved in our Trust in many different ways. We are keen to recruit more people to join our programme in Herefordshire.

Who are experts by experience?

Experts by Experience are people who have personal knowledge of our services in Herefordshire - either through their own use of those services, or through caring for someone who has.

Are you interested in getting involved?

Email  karenbent@nhs.net

Location:   Benet Building, Ruckhall Lane, Belmont, HEREFORD, HR2 9RP

Being an EbE gives me enormous satisfaction because I regard my story to be a very positive one and when I share it with other people it gives them hope, especially if they have only recently become unwell and are in a very dark place. 

What can I get involved in?

There are lots of different ways to be involved, depending on your interests and preferences.  Here are some of them:

• Taking part in staff recruitment
• Project work, co-producing the planning, design, delivery, development and review of services
• Evaluating services and quality assurance
• Staff training
• Peer training in Recovery College
• Engaging with the public at events, on a stand or co-delivering a workshop
• Attending meetings to give feedback
• Taking part in research

Over time, your interests might change - that’s fine.

The EbE programme ensures that people with lived experience of mental ill-health have a voice, share their views and influence services, it is vital partnership working and essential if services are to be improved.  You can make a real difference.

How are you going to support me to become an Expert by Experience?

You can register your interest by completing and returning Fast Track Recruitment Form2022.docx[docx] 62KB or by using the  Fast Track Recruitment Form - Accessible format.docx[docx] 42KB.

Experts by Experience downloadable leaflet.pdf [pdf] 971KB

If you would like to discuss the role in more detail email karenbent@nhs.net

We will ask you a bit about yourself and the sort of activities you would like to be involved in.  We will go through our Agreement Form with you. Once Experts by Experience are registered with us, we contact them by email or telephone when new opportunities are available, to see if they might be of interest.

We provide training for certain roles (for instance recruitment training).  We also arrange for any reasonable adjustments people need, to help ensure that opportunities are open to as wide a group as possible.

What happens if I become unwell, or don’t want to continue with my role?

Please do not worry as we fully understand that this may happen.  You can opt out of the programme at any point or take a break.

Why might I want to get involved?

There are lots of reasons that people choose to get involved.

Here are some of the things our current Experts by Experience have told us: 

• Carers are an often overlooked resource.  We have more information and background knowledge.
• Being an Expert by Experience means that the bad things I have experienced in life have not been wasted experiences; to inform and give insight on behalf of others.  
• I’d like to pass on my knowledge, to help others going through similar experiences.
• Because the Trust was there for me in my darkest time.  I like to give something back.
• I can use my professional experience to help others, as well as develop my professional skills.
• Being an Expert by Experience a voice which is so significant when in my life experiences my voice had been denied. 
• I have been able to practice skills I need to move forward with my life in an environment which is supportive and validating.  
• I feel I am giving back to the system, feels that I am worthy, helpful and have a purpose in life.
• I can use my professional experience to help others, as well as develop my professional skills.