This webpage has been designed to:

• Inform service users as to the role and responsibilities of the National Advocacy Unit.

• Provide practical information for anyone wishing to make a comment, compliment or complaint about health and personal social services received in Ireland. 

• Give service users an opportunity to register their interest in being involved in the design, development and delivery of the health and personal social services in Ireland.

• Enable site users to access the Library function which contains useful websites, publications and practical guides to service user involvement. It also provides updates on the implementation of the National Strategy for Service User Involvement, the Community Participation and Primary Care Teams Joint Funding Initiative and the National Advocacy Programme Alliance.

• Provide links to detailed and concise information on over thirty of the most popular and successful methods used in service user involvement. The site user can also access a series of questions and on the basis of the answers the most appropriate methods for service user involvement will be recommended.

• Highlight case studies or models of good practice in service user involvement. The sharing of experience is often the best practical assistance on hand and various case studies can be found on the related link HealthData.ie. The site provides examples of successful participatory practice and is particularly useful for staff who are researching or planning for service user involvement.

• Present the HSE Change Hub. The Change Hub is an online resource available to all in the Irish Health and Social Care system to assist managers and teams to plan and manage change. As well as a complete set of tools and templates for managing change, secure collaborative working and communication facilities, the Change Hub hosts a comprehensive resource repository for those who would like to learn more or access practical support on managing change. First time visitors to Change Hub should register on www.hseland.ieand click on the blue Change Hub icon.'

Please note that the National Advocacy Unit does not accept responsibility for the content of any websites linked to or from this site. However, if you should have any concerns please email rachel.mcevoy@hse.ie