Lived Experience
At Spectrum, we understand how people’s experiences enrich our organisation and shape our services. This includes our colleagues, our service users, our partners or our local communities.
Lived Experience is the experience of people for whom a social issue, or combination of issues, has had a direct impact.
At Spectrum, we understand how people’s experiences enrich our organisation and shape our services. This includes our colleagues, our service users, our partners or our local communities.
We’re working to develop a more inclusive culture, embracing the diverse nature of our people and welcoming staff with lived experience of a wide range of issues. We understand that by improving experiences of one group, we can improve experiences for all our staff and also for our service users. This approach supports our company values, our patient experience strategy, our people strategy and our ambitious business plan.
We are proud to part of the NHS Lived Experience Charter, which focuses on supporting employment opportunities for people with lived experience of the Criminal Justice System.
Back in 2022, our healthcare service at HMP Lancaster Farms was one of five sites which formed a national pilot for the charter, and was awarded Bronze status.
Current Spectrum teams who are recognised by the NHS Lived Experience Charter include HMP Deerbolt (Bronze status), HMP Low Newton, HMP Durham, HMP Frankland, HMP Northumberland, HMP Holme House, HMP Kirklevington Grange, HMP Humber and HMP Hull (all with “Working Towards” status).
Members of the Lived Experience Charter aspire to achieve these values:
1. We support the open and inclusive recruitment of people with lived experience within our organisation, by our partner organisations and within the community.
2. We raise awareness within our organisation of the benefits of employing people with lived experience, the barriers people often face and how to overcome these.
3. We provide people with lived experience the support they may need from the very start of their employment process, throughout their employment and into their next role and, should someone leave.
4. We strive to have clear progression pathways for people with lived experience, including accredited training from entry level through to leadership and we provide opportunities for personal and professional development.
5. We take responsibility to ensure a workplace environment and culture that is free from discriminatory practices, unconscious bias or prejudice.
6. We commit to share good practice and to ensure co-production of our services with people with lived experience.
At Spectrum, we welcome applications from people who identify as having lived experience across our organisation. To view all our current vacancies, please click here.
Lived Experience Network
Our Lived Experience staff network brings together colleagues with experience of any social issues or factors – including mental ill health, substance misuse, trauma, caring duties, the care system or justice system. This network builds on Spectrum’s ambition to become a lived experience inclusive employer, supporting our current and future workforce and recognising the value of lived experience.
