People to Partners: Developing a New Approach for Northern Ireland

Redefining the social contract is essential for creating systems that genuinely meet the needs of our public. That’s what People to Partners is all about - building a collaborative approach between people and services, that embraces agency and emphasises shared responsibility and community strength. Not just within health, but across our public services. Leading from within health, our ambition at PCC is to build a movement for change.

Our report, developed in partnership with NICON (Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care | NHS Confederation), explores the development of a unique approach to building a new relationship with the public: Can we 'do with' (not 'for') to drive wellbeing in Northern Ireland. This report was launched at the NICON Annual Conference in October 2025. 

Background

In September 2025, senior leaders from across Northern Ireland’s Health and Social Care (HSC) system, along with thought leaders, representatives from local government, the Community and Voluntary Sector (C&VS) and leaders from wider Northern Ireland (NI) Executive Departments came together for a roundtable discussion to explore the potential collaborative advantage of a new relationship with the public in delivering public sector goals in Northern Ireland. The workshop, delivered in association with NICON, was facilitated by Dr Ronan Glynn, EY’s Health Sector Lead for the Island of Ireland. It provided an opportunity to consider the case for change and to consider the opportunities for us in NI, along with collaborative advantages that might be offered by a strategic approach and the next steps to take this agenda forward.

Objectives of the roundtable:

• Set the context in general around the concept of People as Partners, and building a new relationship with the public to drive wellbeing
• Discuss the case for change, and the potential benefits that this would bring
• Identify opportunities in the health sector and across wider government to drive wellbeing
• Discuss a strategic approach to taking this agenda forward in NI.

Participants strongly endorsed the “People to Partners” approach, recognising it as a key opportunity to reshape services by embedding citizens as active partners in decision-making, design and delivery.

Context

In the context of health and social care, there is an urgent need to redefine the social contract to create a sustainable and effective system, within wider public services, that meets contemporary demands and expectations. With this in mind, the principle of harnessing the energy and agency of citizens as assets in resetting and reshaping public services for the future has been gaining traction, particularly in health and social care.

What are the opportunities for Northern Ireland?

Next steps

Driving wellbeing through improved citizenship in Northern Ireland requires a strategic and collaborative approach that focuses on shifting mindsets and organisational culture within and beyond healthcare and actively engaging citizens as partners in the process.

To realise a vision of building a new relationship with the public, through which the healthcare system and wider public services ‘does with’ (and not for) in order to drive wellbeing in Northern Ireland, next steps require socialisation of this idea and further engagement to identify the best way forward.

Based on discussions, a series of recommendations were made to take forward this agenda in Northern Ireland.

• Establish an NI-specific, collaborative, cross government strategic framework
• Support and build on 'This is Health'
• Quantify the impact of community initiatives to public services
• Build our evidence base and support for shared learning
• Foster interdepartmental collaboration
• Listen, reflect and do
• Promote integrated care as part of a wider approach to wellbeing
• Encourage citizen activation through education and resources
• Embed citizen-centred design methods 

This roundtable conversation was intended to provide thought and system leadership. It is, of course, the first conversation amongst many that will be needed, and not least with our elected representatives and Ministers.

The PCC and NICON are committed to working with stakeholders, policymakers and communities to advance the People to Partners agenda. The report will serve as a resource for leaders across Northern Ireland to drive meaningful change and strengthen partnership between the public and health and social care services.

To request more information on the People to Partners agenda, please email PCC's Executive Assistant on execasst@pcc-ni.net