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Public Contributor Kay Gallacher is Co-Chair of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health\u2019s Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Forum. She will be writing regular blogs to provide an update on her Co-Chair role, the Forum and other PPIE activities.<\/i>\u00a0<\/p>\n
As we come into October it seems strange to think that we have been operating in this virtual world for over 6 months.\u00a0 I hope you are all keeping well during these uncertain times.\u00a0I thought I\u2019d write this blog to try to say how I feel that University staff and Public Contributors (PCs) can work better together in this new way.<\/p>\n
Communication:<\/strong><\/p>\n As with many areas of our lives, communication is crucial.\u00a0 The need for researchers, educators, staff and PCs to contact each other is even more important now than previously.\u00a0 It is easy for us, PCs to feel left out if there\u2019s not regular contact, so my top tip<\/strong> is to confirm receipt of all pieces of work we send back to you.\u00a0 It\u2019s difficult for us to know if someone is on holiday or if they didn\u2019t like your message if you don\u2019t get a response.\u00a0 Just a brief email to say \u201cHi\u201d is also very welcome, of course, there\u2019s nothing stopping PCs contacting university staff regularly too, it\u2019s a two-way thing.\u00a0<\/p>\n We need to consider the best way to continue connecting with the people who can\u2019t attend virtual meetings because of lack of digital equipment or broadband coverage so as not to lose them.\u00a0 On a positive note, I\u2019m sure that there\u2019s a whole raft of PCs who, for various reasons, would never be able to attend meetings at the University and for whom the idea of virtual involvement is brilliant.\u00a0<\/p>\n Zoom meetings:<\/strong><\/p>\n Zoom meetings in the main, work well for me.\u00a0 They feel tighter and we just get on with the business at hand.\u00a0 There are downsides though –\u00a0 I don\u2019t think I\u2019m alone in finding them very tiring.\u00a0 My concentration wanders after ninety minutes so my top tip<\/strong> would be to have more frequent, shorter meetings.\u00a0<\/p>\n I do miss the camaraderie and chatting to people at the meetings.\u00a0 Meeting across the airways doesn\u2019t allow for the same team spirit and you definitely can\u2019t pick up on non-verbal cues that add to interactions.\u00a0 I also feel a bit disconnected from my fellow PCs and can\u2019t show my concern for their wellbeing in the same way as in person.\u00a0 My top tip would be to have a short (15 minutes) session before the meeting starts to give those who want to, a chance to chat and rebuild some of the \u201cteam\u201d feel?<\/p>\n PPIE Celebration event:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The PPIE Celebration event<\/a> in July was, in my view, a good example of how to run an event on-line.\u00a0 It was on time, well-structured and well organised without being complicated.\u00a0 As Lynne from UCL commented about on-line events \u201cmake it simple in the first place, revisit it and then make it even simpler\u201d. The Faculty has created a hints and tips resource for staff, students and PCs on how to effectively conduct PPIE during and beyond the pandemic. This resource was co-produced with event attendees and can be accessed: here<\/a><\/p>\n Training:<\/strong><\/p>\n Training in how to use Zoom is essential.\u00a0 Everyone\u2019s done a great job of teaching themselves but a few additional useful tips would be great.\u00a0 It sounds counter-intuitive but my top tip would be to have \u00a0a written note on the workings of Zoom. The Faculty recently hosted an online zoom training session<\/a> for PCs and created a Zoom how to guide<\/a> which can be accessed by everyone.<\/p>\n \u00a35 allowance for PCs<\/strong><\/p>\n I understand that NIHR are recommending a \u00a35.00 per meeting standing allowance to cover the cost of telephone calls, printing, internet connections etc {Guidance available: here<\/a>}.\u00a0 My top tip<\/strong> is to consider including this additional payment for PCs, this is especially welcome as I, like many others have to print out agendas and meeting notes.<\/p>\n So, there you have it, my thoughts on virtual working.\u00a0 I\u2019m really proud to be part of a group that has responded so well to this new operating method.\u00a0 Let\u2019s do the tweaks and make it even better.<\/p>\n Best wishes,<\/p>\n Kay<\/p>\n For more information about other PPIE events, training and funding opportunities, you can sign up to our monthly\u00a0digest<\/a>, visit our\u00a0website<\/a>, follow us on\u00a0twitter<\/a>\u00a0or email\u00a0srbmh@manchester.ac.uk<\/a>. For further PPIE resources, visit the\u00a0Faculty\u2019s PPIE Toolkit<\/a>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav _builder_version=”3.0.106″ in_same_term=”off” show_prev=”on” show_next=”on” prev_text=”Previous” next_text=”Next” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” \/][et_pb_comments _builder_version=”3.0.106″ show_avatar=”on” show_reply=”on” show_count=”on” background_layout=”light” header_font_size_tablet=”51″ header_line_height_tablet=”2″ custom_button=”on” button_icon_placement=”right” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_use_icon=”off” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_size__hover=”null” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover=”null” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover=”null” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover=”null” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover=”null” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover=”null” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover=”null” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover=”null” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover=”null” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover=”null” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover=”null” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover=”null” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover=”null” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover=”null” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover=”null” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover=”null” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover=”null” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Related posts” _builder_version=”3.0.106″ background_layout=”light” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=”3.0.106″ area=”sidebar-1″ orientation=”left” show_border=”off” background_layout=”light” locked=”on” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Connect Title” module_class=”footer-section” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_color=”#1d1d1d” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” prev_background_color=”#ffffff” global_module=”380″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” global_parent=”380″ parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” parallax_method_3=”off” module_id=”footer-row” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ locked=”off”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contact Us Title” global_parent=”380″ _builder_version=”3.17.6″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contact Us” global_parent=”380″ _builder_version=”3.17.6″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark”]<\/p>\n The Social Responsibility Public Engagement Digest<\/span>: https:\/\/www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk\/connect\/social-responsibility\/contact\/<\/a><\/p>\n The Faculty Website<\/span>: https:\/\/www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk\/connect\/social-responsibility\/public-patients\/<\/a><\/p>\nRelated<\/h1>\n
Related posts:<\/h3>
'Outstanding Contribution to PPIE' Awards<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>
Two initiatives to increase ES in the SBS curriculum<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>
Introducing Nick Weise: Lecturer and Deputy Director of Social Responsibility (School of Chemistry)<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>
Further information<\/span><\/h4>\n