User involvement. Pick and choose

Involving service users in the selection of a manager for learning disabilities services proved successful when implemented by a primary care trust with the use of facilitators and special training. The PCT chief executive made it clear that no-one would be appointed if the user and carer panel considered them inappropriate. The users were involved in drawing up five questions for each of the candidates. On the basis of their answers, each candidate was scored by the service users. The users, carers and managers were unanimous in their choice of candidate.