Public Engagement Network
About the Public Engagement Network (PEN)
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Who we are, what we do and why we do it
Who We Are
The Public Engagement Network (PEN) supports people whose voices are not usually heard to engage with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), England's independent health and adult social care regulator.
Facilitated by Choice Support, the network is made up of local and national charities, community groups, and other organisations who support diverse communities, people at risk of facing health inequalities and people with protected characteristics.
PEN is part of the CQC's Experts by Experience programme, which involves the public in inspections and other activities. It is delivered by Choice Support.
Our Mission
We work with our members to ensure that people whose voices and experiences we do not often hear are able to give feedback to CQC on the health and social care they've received.
This includes people who are the most disadvantaged in our society, people who are more at risk of experiencing health inequalities, and people with protected characteristics.
We want to ensure that Care Quality Commission can gain real insight into peoples' lived experiences of health and social care. Feedback on care helps CQC identify and respond to risks, find and monitor trends over time, and help communities that are seldom heard to positively impact the decisions that affect their health and/or social care.
Why Join Us?
By supporting your community members and the people you support to give feedback on care, you'll contribute to improvements in health and social care.
PEN membership is free, you don't need to be a care provider to join and there are no specific time commitments you need to make to be a member.
You can enjoy the following benefits if you decide to join us:
- Engage directly with CQC
- Network and connect with other charitable organisations and community groups to keep up-to-date with developments in the third sector, particularly relating to health and social care
- Be promoted on our website, Facebook, X and Instagram pages, including sharing and promotion of your group’s posts on these online platforms
- Receive and contribute to our regular newsletter, free of charge
- And other incentives, tailored to you
Find out more about how we work.
Our Team
Paige Lyons (she/they)
Community Engagement Officer, Northern England
Paige supports people from underrepresented groups in the community by facilitating their involvement in the network. They lead on the PEN Advisory Group and frequently travel to engage directly with our members.
They have previously worked as a Programme Assistant for a mental health and wellbeing charity based in the UK and currently volunteer with LGBTQ+ groups locally.
Paige enjoys playing the guitar, getting involved in community engagement in the arts, and looking after their house plants.
Contact
Tel: 07599 107 995
Email: publicengagementnetwork@choicesupport.org.uk
Diane Lewis
Community Engagement Officer, the Midlands
Diane promotes the inclusion of diverse communities in the work of Care Quality Commission to help tackle inequalities in health and social care.
She previously worked as an Outreach Worker, supporting families and individuals in crisis. She currently volunteers for a tenant-led organisation and her local community action group.
In her free time, Diane enjoys swimming, baking and spending time with her family.
Contact
Tel: 07759 841756
Email: publicengagementnetwork@choicesupport.org.uk
Marta Styk
Community Engagement Officer, London and the East of England
Marta is passionate about supporting people in need, advocating for them, and helping amplify the voices of groups who are not usually heard.
She previously worked as a Project and Recovery Worker for a large UK charity for people experiencing homelessness. She is currently studying Level 6 Health and Social Care.
Outside of work, Marta likes to exercise and go to the gym. She also spends time volunteering with people whose first language is not English.
Contact
Tel: 07584 311 931
Email: publicengagementnetwork@choicesupport.org.uk
Please note: all our Community Engagement Officers are currently covering the South of England. Please email publicengagementnetwork@choicesupport.org.uk or contact any of our Community Engagement Officers by phone if you are in the South and would like to be in touch with us. Thank you.
Brittany Hutchings
PEN Communications Officer
Brittany works closely with representative organisations within the Public Engagement Network to ensure that everyone can engage with the CQC. She also manages the network's social media accounts, website and the PEN newsletter.
She previously worked in communications for a local authority and in the not-for-profit sector, and she has also been a Support Worker.
In her free time, Brittany can be found playing the piano, hillwalking and doing yoga.
Contact
Tel: 07759 841 771
Email: publicengagementnetwork@choicesupport.org.uk
