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Section B:
Choosing The Level:
The Bradford Participation Tool
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LEVEL 2: CONSULTATION
Consultation is appropriate when you can offer people some choices on what you are going to do - but not the opportunity to develop their own ideas or participate in putting plans into action.
Basics
- Consultation means giving people a restricted choice and role in solutions. You may consult on the problems, offer some options, allow comment, take account and then proceed - perhaps after negotiation. You are not asking for help in taking action.
- All the basics of information giving apply, plus the need to handle feedback.
Where appropriate
The consultation stance is likely to be most appropriate when:
- You want to improve a service.
- You have a clear vision and plans to implement a project or programme, and there appear to be a limited range of options.
- These options can be set out in terms that community interests can understand and relate to their own concerns or needs.
- Your organization can handle feedback and is prepared to use this to choose between or modify options.
It is inappropriate when the following apply
- You aren't going to take any notice of what people say. You are seeking to empower community
- You are not clear what you wish to do and are seeking ideas.
- You don't have the resources or skills to carry out the options presented, or other means of implementing.
Methods
A wide range of consultation mechanisms and methods are set out in Sections C and D of this guide.
Guidelines
- Consider what response you want and how you will handle it as well as what you are presenting.
- Make clear how realistic the different options are, and what the pros and cons are as you see them.
- Be open about your own role, who ultimately takes decisions, how and when this will be done.
- If a consultative committee is used ensure it has clear terms of reference.
Consultation checklist
Before taking up a consultation stance consider:
- Are you clear which interests you are consulting, and have you the means to contact them?
- Are they likely to be satisfied with consultation?
- Can you present your vision and options for achieving it in a way people will understand and relate to?
- Have you identified appropriate communication methods for the time available and likely participants?
- Can you and your colleagues handle the feedback?
- Have you arranged for a report back to those consulted?
- Are you prepared to change your stance if people want more than consultation?
- Are you just seeking endorsement of your plans?
| Section A | 1 2 3 4 5 6 | Section C |
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Introduction and Framework Section A Section B Section C Section D Section E |
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