{"id":52036,"date":"2026-08-28T11:11:47","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T10:11:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/adult-social-care\/?page_id=52036"},"modified":"2026-08-28T11:11:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T10:11:51","slug":"jef-terms-of-reference","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/adult-social-care\/devon-social-care\/participation-and-coproduction\/the-joint-engagement-forum\/jef-terms-of-reference\/","title":{"rendered":"JEF – Terms of Reference"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Overview of the Forum<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Joint Engagement Forum (JEF) brings together representatives of the providers of the local engagement contract. It is a forum attended by those with and those representing people with protected characteristic, lived experience of adult social care and adult social care services, carers, and voluntary sector partners to help shape adult social care and health services in Devon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Forum plays an important role in ensuring that the voices of people and communities are meaningfully embedded within strategic decision-making, supporting a more person-centred and responsive system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Purpose of Forum<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. A meeting to\u00a0enable\u00a0Devon County Council\u00a0(DCC) and\u00a0NHS Devon\u00a0ICB\u00a0officers\u00a0to oversee health and social care engagement activity.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. A meeting to enable\u00a0carers and people with lived experience of\u00a0health and social care\u00a0to share their experiences of involvement activities undertaken by DCC and\u00a0NHS Devon\u00a0ICB.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      1. A meeting where\u00a0commissioners from DCC\u00a0and\u00a0NHS Devon\u00a0ICB\u00a0can\u00a0discuss\u00a0engagement, consultation and involvement on health and social care issues\u00a0together along with people who use services. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        1. A meeting in which the agenda is not solely directed by the Council but places significant value on ensuring members are sighted on, and able to contribute to, the development of plans and approaches within Integrated Adult Social Care through a range of established mechanisms\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          1. A meeting that enables Forum members to guide and co-produce the agenda and discussion content, focusing on what matters most to them and aligning with wider strategic goals and initiatives. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
              \n
            1. A meeting which helps commissioners to judge the effectiveness of the performance of the provider which holds the Local Engagement contract (Lot 2 of the Healthwatch and Local Engagement Contract).\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                \n
              1. A meeting which enables commissioners and the local engagement provider to share activities which may take place under the contract or may be directly managed by commissioners, to maximise the learning from the engagement. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                  \n
                1. A meeting which is attended by Healthwatch Devon as holders of the Lot 1 contract for consumer voice activities as well as the local engagement Lot 2 provider, so enabling links to be made\u00a0between views collected by the consumer voice to be compared with or influence local engagement findings.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                    \n
                  1. A meeting at which commissioners and other managers can\u00a0participate\u00a0in a\u00a0question-and-answer\u00a0forum with\u00a0carers and\u00a0people with lived experience.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                      \n
                    1. A meeting which sends a representative to the Health and Wellbeing Board.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                        \n
                      1. A meeting which enables members of DCC\u2019s Equality Reference Group to receive an overview of local health and social care engagement activities to help ensure equalities,\u00a0as well as\u00a0people with lived experience\u00a0perspectives,\u00a0have been\u00a0considered. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                        Attendees<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        Attendance at the Joint Engagement Forum (JEF) will vary from quarter to quarter depending on what engagement activity has been undertaken. Not all members of the Forum are required to attend the whole event; attendance can vary from agenda item to agenda item. Membership is reviewed on a regular basis, with JEF members identifying and agreeing potential attendees. Permanent membership is granted with the agreement of the Forum and subject to appropriate preparation for participation. From time to time, individuals may also attend in an observational capacity, subject to agreement by members. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        Membership<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          \n
                        • Devon County\u00a0Council\u00a0officers\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                            \n
                          • NHS Devon\u00a0ICB officers\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                              \n
                            • Devon & Torbay\u00a0NHS officers\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                \n
                              • Representatives from\u00a0the provider of the local engagement contract (Lot 2 of the Healthwatch Devon and Local Engagement Contract)\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                  \n
                                • Representatives from Healthwatch Devon, the statutory consumer voice (holders of Lot 1 of the Healthwatch devon and Local Engagement contract): one paid officer and one lay representative\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                    \n
                                  • Members of the DCC Equality Reference Group who\u00a0represent\u00a0people with characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                      \n
                                    • A\u00a0person with lived experience\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0carer who has\u00a0participated\u00a0in each of the activities reported to the\u00a0Forum.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                        \n
                                      • An officer from a local engagement provider if\u00a0required\u00a0to support any of the\u00a0people\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                        with lived experience or carers, e.g. an officer from Mind can attend to support a person with mental health issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                          \n
                                        • DCC and NHS managers who can\u00a0participate\u00a0in a\u00a0question-and-answer\u00a0session with\u00a0carers and people with lived\u00a0experience.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                            \n
                                          • The DCC officer which supports the Health and Wellbeing Board\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                              \n
                                            • DCC note-taker.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                \n
                                              • Sign language interpreter, when\u00a0required.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                                Roles<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                  \n
                                                1. Involvement and participation officers from DCC and\u00a0NHS Devon\u00a0ICB\u00a0will\u00a0ensure the JEF always receives an update on the last quarter\u2019s engagement and that planned for the next quarter, produced in collaboration with the local engagement contract holder.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                                                    \n
                                                  1. Carer and people with lived experience\u00a0representatives\u00a0attend so the commissioners of the engagement\u00a0activities\u00a0can\u00a0hear firsthand about engagement activities and where possible they should give the activity feedback. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                                                      \n
                                                    1. Representatives of the provider which holds the local engagement contract are\u00a0required\u00a0to supply information on the local engagement undertaken during the last quarter and which is planned in the next quarter.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                                                        \n
                                                      1. Paid officers from the organisation or partnership of organisations which holds the local engagement contract are\u00a0required\u00a0to support\u00a0people who use their services\u00a0who have difficulty\u00a0participating\u00a0in the meeting.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                                                          \n
                                                        1. The Healthwatch Devon representatives\u00a0are required to\u00a0provide information which can complement the findings of local engagement activities.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                                                            \n
                                                          1. The Forum\u2019s representative on the Health and Wellbeing Board\u00a0is required to\u00a0report on the previous quarter\u2019s Board and\u00a0participate\u00a0in a session to plan their input to the forthcoming Board.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                                                              \n
                                                            1. The DCC officer who supports the Health and Wellbeing Board\u00a0is required to\u00a0help\u00a0facilitate\u00a0a session which enables JEF members to give views which the Board representative can input to Board discussions.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                                                                \n
                                                              1. The paid officer from Healthwatch is expected to\u00a0support the lay member and ensure they can give relevant updates, and to capture any action for Healthwatch agreed at the JEF.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                                                                Frequency of meetings etc.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                Frequency: Quarterly <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                Time of year: The JEF will take place in the fortnight before the Health and Wellbeing Board <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                Timing: Meetings will be no longer than 3 hours with a comfort break <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                Venue: Currently running meetings virtually using Microsoft Teams <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                Chair: Involvement Manager, Social Care Commissioning <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                Inputs to the Forum<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                The Forum will generally include the following agenda items, with the agenda and strategic direction jointly shaped by Forum members and informed by the prevailing priorities of DCC and the NHS at any given time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                  \n
                                                                • Minutes and actions from the\u00a0previous\u00a0Forum\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                    \n
                                                                  • Engagement activity round-up\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                      \n
                                                                    • Health and social care managers\u00a0question and answer session, or equivalent interactive session (e.g. getting\u00a0lived experience\u00a0and carer views on annual performance reports)\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                        \n
                                                                      • Feedback from the\u00a0previous\u00a0Health and Wellbeing Board\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                          \n
                                                                        • Preparation for the next Health and Wellbeing Board\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                            \n
                                                                          • Consideration of ways of further developing the Forum itself\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                                                            Outputs from the Board<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                              \n
                                                                            • Minutes and\/or Action Log\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                                \n
                                                                              • Overview of health and social care engagement\u00a0activity\u00a0published on the DCC website\u00a0and the local engagement provider\u2019s\u00a0website.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                                  \n
                                                                                • Representation of carer\u00a0and people with lived experience\u00a0views on the Health & Wellbeing Board\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                                    \n
                                                                                  • Feedback from the Health and Wellbeing Board\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                                      \n
                                                                                    • Referral and escalation of\u00a0issues raised by service users to the relevant\u00a0parts of DCC and\u00a0NHS Devon ICB\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                                        \n
                                                                                      • The ability for people who use health and social care services to directly question\u00a0commissioners\u00a0and managers of relevant\u00a0services.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                        Standards for administration<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                          \n
                                                                                        • Agendas will be sent to members\u00a0at least 1\u00a0week\u00a0before JEF\u00a0meetings.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                                            \n
                                                                                          • Minutes of JEF\u00a0meetings will be\u00a0sent to members within 3\u00a0weeks of the\u00a0meeting.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                                              \n
                                                                                            • Minutes of JEF\u00a0meetings will be published on the\u00a0relevant public internet pages within 3 weeks of the\u00a0meeting.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                                                \n
                                                                                              • Accessibility \u2013\u00a0should a meeting be face-to-face\u00a0the\u00a0venue\u00a0and facilities will be arranged to\u00a0meet\u00a0the communication and access\u00a0needs\u00a0of JEF\u00a0members if\u00a0those needs are communicated to the meeting administrator in time.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                Code of Conduct<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                The purpose of JEF activity is to maximise opportunities for carers and people with lived experience to have a say in health and social care commissioning activities, by enabling them to comment on engagement processes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                To this end, there is an expectation that all parties will: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                  \n
                                                                                                • Join us from a safe,\u00a0quiet\u00a0and private place\u00a0(where Forums are still held online)\u00a0due to the\u00a0sensitive and\u00a0confidential nature of what is being discussed.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                                                    \n
                                                                                                  • Engage in discussion in a respectful and constructive\u00a0manner.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                                                      \n
                                                                                                    • Respect the rights of\u00a0others to\u00a0participate\u00a0in the\u00a0JEF.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                                                        \n
                                                                                                      • Bring a positive attitude and \u2018can do\u2019\u00a0approach to the work of the\u00a0JEF. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                                                          \n
                                                                                                        • Engage in an open and transparent manner and highlight any relevant conflicts of interest as they may\u00a0arise.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                                                            \n
                                                                                                          • Understand that, whilst frustration and disagreement will occur, behaviour\u00a0from any party\u00a0which is\u00a0deemed\u00a0unacceptable,\u00a0threatening\u00a0or\u00a0abusive\u00a0will not be\u00a0tolerated.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                                                              \n
                                                                                                            • Bring any\u00a0complaints, concerns arising from JEF\u00a0meetings or disputes to be settled, to the attention of the chair of the JEF\u00a0in\u00a0writing. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                              Appendix:\u202f<\/strong>\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                              Policy Principles for Devon County Council\u202fIntegrated\u202fAdult\u202fSocial\u202fCare & Health Involvement, Engagement and Consultation Groups\u202f\u202f<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                              \u202f\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                              To help deliver effective involvement engagement and consultation with people who have care and support needs and their\u202fcarers, Devon County Council either arranges, or commissions others to arrange, discussion groups of people from Devon who can share their lived experience to inform discussions on DCC\u202fIntegrated\u202fAdult\u202fSocial Care and health policy, planning,\u202fservices\u202fand related issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                              \u202f<\/strong>\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                              Devon County Council is committed to creating an environment at all forums and meetings where everyone is treated fairly and with dignity and respect. The principles of DCC\u2019s Unacceptable Behaviour Policy will apply to all members of Integrated Adult\u202fSocial\u202fCare and Health Involvement, Engagement and Consultation Groups both in how they behave to other members of the group and how other members of the group behave towards them. These principles will also apply to DCC staff involved in these groups and members of any organisations commissioned by DCC to help arrange or contribute to these groups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                              \u202f\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                              The Unacceptable Behaviour Policy in full can be found at:\u202f\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                              \nhttps:\/\/inside.devon.gov.uk\/task\/unacceptable-customer-behaviour\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                              \u202f\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                              Members of these groups will be expected to behave in the following\u202fways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                                \n
                                                                                                              • Discuss things in a respectful and constructive\u00a0way. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                                                                  \n
                                                                                                                • Respect other members of the meeting and their role in taking part in and contributing to the\u00a0meeting.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                                                                    \n
                                                                                                                  • Have a positive attitude and, as far as possible, a \u201ccan do\u201d\u00a0approach. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                                                                      \n
                                                                                                                    • Make the meeting, or a DCC staff member involved in the meeting, aware of any\u202fpossible conflict\u202fof\u00a0interests.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                                      \u202f\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                                      Any concerns from attendees about the behaviour of other attendees can be raised in the meeting <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                                      itself, or with the meeting chair outside the meeting, or with DCC staff involved in arranging the meeting. This can be done in writing if necessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                                      Reasonable Adjustments to Enable Participation in\u202fIntegrated\u202fAdult Social\u202fCare and Health Involvement, Engagement and Consultation Groups\u202f\u202f<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                                      \u202f\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                                      The Equality Act 2010 places a duty on organisations to make “reasonable adjustments” to any provision,\u202fcriterion\u202for practice that they apply and to physical features of their premises, to accommodate the needs of disabled people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                                      In deciding what adjustments are \u201creasonable,\u201d\u202fDCC staff will consider:\u202f\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                                        \n
                                                                                                                      • Their duties under the Equality Act 2010\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                                                                          \n
                                                                                                                        • The extent to which someone would be at a substantial disadvantage in taking part in the group compared with other people because of their disability or other\u00a0circumstances.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                                                                            \n
                                                                                                                          • The effectiveness of the adjustment\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                                                                              \n
                                                                                                                            • The proportionate benefit of the adjustment in enabling someone to contribute to the purpose of the\u00a0group.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                                                                                                \n
                                                                                                                              • How difficult it would be to make the\u00a0adjustment.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                                                                                                                \u00a0 Overview of the Forum  The Joint Engagement Forum (JEF) brings together representatives of the providers of the local engagement contract. It is a forum attended by those with and those representing people with protected characteristic, lived experience of adult social care and adult social care services, carers, and voluntary sector partners to help shape adult social […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2904,"featured_media":0,"parent":48292,"menu_order":11,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-52036","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-09-23 04:05:08","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/adult-social-care\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/52036","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/adult-social-care\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/adult-social-care\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/adult-social-care\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2904"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/adult-social-care\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52036"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/adult-social-care\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/52036\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52039,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/adult-social-care\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/52036\/revisions\/52039"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/adult-social-care\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/48292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/adult-social-care\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}