Healthcare Improvement Scotland - Community Engagement supports the engagement of people and communities in shaping health and care services in Scotland.

We believe that people and communities should be able to use their skills and experience to design and improve the health and care services that matter to them. They should also have the opportunity to work together with the organisations that provide those services.

Previously known as the Scottish Health Council, we launched in April 2020. Our focus is on:

• best practice for engaging with individuals and communities to shape local services and influence national policy
• equality and human rights to ensure everyone's voice is heard
• collaborating and working in partnership, and
• sharing learning.

Although part of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, we have a separate governance committee, which is responsible for agreeing our overall strategic direction and assuring the legal equality responsibilities of Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

Our local presence and national reach enables us to work in a variety of ways, gathering evidence and best practice from across Scotland. It also allows us to collaborate with a wide range of individuals, groups and organisations.