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Lived Experience Connector
Contents
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust introduced the Lived Experience Connector (LEC) ® role in 2015 as a way of involving people with lived experience of services in the trust’s provision of staff training. HEE is working with the trust to promote awareness of this role and encourage other organisations to introduce it.
Background
This is part of HEE’s national programme of work to introduce new roles, or expand existing ones, in mental health services. The Lived Experience Connector, who has experience of using mental health services, and trainee meet during each placement to help the trainee understand and reflect on the people they work with and their impact on that relationship. LECs use their skills to describe their own experiences, emotions, feelings, fears, concerns and hopes, which in turn helps the trainee to reflect on their practice.
LECs are volunteers and undergo statutory checks such as DBS clearance and mandatory volunteer training. They have training on confidentiality, the importance of boundaries, resilience and support. Lived Experience Connector® is a Registered Trademark owned by Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
Videos
This animation highlights LEC roles and how they inform the whole learning experience and provides trainees with continuous support and feedback in their journey to develop person-centred practice. It shows how this approach has contributed to the organisation in its day-to-day operations and strategically at Board level.
This film describes the Lived Experience Connector role and how they inform the whole learning experience and provides trainees with continuous support and feedback in their journey to develop person-centred practice. It shows how this approach has contributed to the organisation in its day-to-day operations and strategically at Board level.
Case study
Richard Sherwood, Nursing Associate, talks about his experience of working with a LEC in this blog.