Chapter Five: Involving and valuing people with Lived Experience

Involving people with lived experiences of homelessness and multiple disadvantage within day centres brings significant benefits to both the organisation and the clients. Individuals with lived experiences have a deep understanding of the challenges and barriers faced by those in similar situations. Their personal insights can make the support and services offered more relevant and effective, as they can provide practical advice and empathetic understanding that goes beyond theoretical knowledge.

When you employ people with lived experience into any role, it can also foster a more authentic and trusting environment within the day centre. When clients see staff who have faced similar struggles, they may feel more comfortable and open, knowing that their experiences are understood and validated. This can enhance engagement and improve the overall effectiveness of the support provided.

Employing individuals with lived experience can bring a unique perspective to the day centre’s operations and decision-making processes. Their first-hand knowledge can help shape programs and services to better meet the needs of clients, ensuring that the centre’s approach is both practical and compassionate. Overall, integrating people with lived experience into employment not only enriches the support offered but also promotes a more inclusive and understanding atmosphere within the day centre. It adds a layer of value to lived experience contributions.

“So those professional versus personal boundaries are really important to protect for lived experience people.”

It is essential to recognise that everyone brings unique assets to the table, particularly those with lived experience. These individuals possess invaluable insights that can significantly enhance the effectiveness of an organisation.

Unlike traditional qualifications, lived experience offers a deep understanding of the challenges and nuances that a degree alone may not convey. This perspective fosters a richer dialogue and drives more meaningful solutions. By viewing lived experience as a valuable asset rather than a potential risk, organisations can cultivate a more inclusive environment that taps into diverse viewpoints for collective benefit.

Integrating individuals with lived experience into an organisation fosters a culture of inclusivity and respect. It demonstrates a commitment to recognising and valuing diverse backgrounds, ultimately enriching the services provided, staff culture and organisational outcomes. By seeing every person as a useful asset, organisations can tap into a wellspring of creativity and resilience, ultimately transforming their practices and achieving greater impact in their communities.

“If we're talking about co-production, the definition of co-production is that everyone is an asset and has something to offer in some way.”

When organisations have their clients involved in using their lived experience for the benefit of the organisation we have some top tips:

• Consider a recruitment process, even if the role is voluntary
  • This enables you to see the client for more than just their lived experience, it also gives the client autonomy and ownership over their application, and interview. This in turn provides a deeper investment from both the organisation and the client as more time and work has gone into the process.
• Budget to cover expenses, and vouchers if appropriate
  • Everyone’s time is valuable, this should be compensated where possible, even if it is in the form of expenses only. Many organisations use vouchers as remuneration and a payment policy is recommended to ensure clients have transparency around any affects on benefits and to protect the organisation.
  • If meeting in person, we highly recommend providing food and drinks too. Culturally, food brings us all together and creates a comfort, safety and fun within a meeting that can bring together all those in a room. (Pizza has been a staple at many of our meetings.)
• Discuss and evaluate any training needs for all who are involved
  • Training is crucial to meaningful engagement from all when on a co-production journey.
  • It’s beneficial for organisations to attend training sessions together, this not only aids with bonding any group together but also identifies further strengths that might not have been picked up on in earlier recruitment processes. It also helps to identify any areas where individuals may like to develop further in.

“He values the time people put in, the same way you would any other consultant.”