About the Network

Our Aims

The Lay Led Self Management Network was set up to provide support and access to best practice sharing for providers of lay led self management Programmes.
It seeks to broaden its membership across the voluntary and not for profit sector.

The aim is to ensure that organisations involved manage and deliver programmes which are accessible and relevant to people with a range of long term health conditions in an expanding and changing market, in particular those in small organisations and or those representing diverse, excluded and hard to reach groups.

The network is peer-led, representing the interests of people with long term health conditions across England through regional and local networks linked to a central “hub” to ensure participation, communication and support at all levels.

Stepping Stones to Quality

Stepping Stones to Quality (SS2Q) is the quality framework for lay led self management. An independent Quality Institute is currently in development overseen by a stakeholder steering group. Within the Lay Led Self Management Network there is both an opportunity and the need to work within this framework.

SS2Q in its current form, has been developed and piloted over 10 years with input from a wide range of stakeholders across the sectors. It is seen as providing an initial set of benchmarks against which commissioners as well as providers and other stakeholders can measure the effectiveness of lay led self management provision. For more information Jane Cooper at  janecooper@ss2q.co.uk

We aim to assist voluntary and not for profit organisations move towards and gain accreditation with a nationally recognised quality or kite mark when it becomes available (likely to be early 2009).

How We Work

We do this by helping to identify champions and resources within the membership and providing access to buddying and mentoring support. Also we facilitate access to peer led learning opportunities such as the quality development events piloted in 2007.

Local networks are vital to build trust and mutual support across organisational boundaries and to foster innovative and creative partnership work among large and small organisations. This will be a continuing priority particularly in areas and with providers that find access to Central London or the Midlands difficult.

With national as well as local providers, condition specific programmes and programmes geared to specific groups such as carers, the range of options for people.