The general consensus is that in order to have an effective forum representation needs to include a range of key people at both strategic and operational level, committed to regular engagement and attendance at meetings.
Suggestions for how to achieve this include:
- reviewing the purpose and role of the forum to ensure the right people are identified to meet this
- refresh membership of the forum and review the location and frequency of meetings
- clearly communicate the purpose of the forum and the benefits of attendance making it clear that this is different from other existing groups
- consider allocating seats to ensure core attendance
Attendees at the regional event also identified some key challenges to getting the right membership and some thoughts on how to address them:
- Foundation Trusts are difficult to engage in the forums but are valuable partners
| NE SPF have a regional representative from MONITOR on its forum. |
- It is often difficult to engage employers regionally, particularly Chief Executives and Chairs.
| Suggestions for how to address this included making the forums very outcome focused, promoting the benefits and strategic agendas, being clear that it is not a negotiating forum. |
- There is some confusion around how SPF links to HRD forums and other groups
| The group suggested having a representative who sits on both forums in order to make the links and/or visiting CE, HRD forums to highlight the work of SPF. |
- There is no ‘one size fits all’ solution for membership and other key stakeholders should be considered to suit local needs
| West Midlands SPF has a joint meeting with Social Services who have fed back positively on the benefit of being involved. |