Mental health trust announces co-chair of innovative Service User and Carer Council
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) has announced the appointment of a co-chair of its new Service User and Carer Council.
Tallia Langston has began her role as co-chair of the new Trust-wide council on an interim basis. She will remain in her role until December 2025 to provide leadership and guidance during the council's establishment.
The Service User and Carer Council is an innovative action-focused forum that places service users, families and carers at the heart of long-term improvements of the Trust's mental health services.
Tallia, who is from Suffolk and lives in Norfolk, said she felt "incredibly honoured" to be appointed into the role.
She said: "This is ground-breaking for NSFT. It is vital that we champion the voices of people with lived experience, and my role as co-chair will allow me to bring those voices through every channel of NSFT, including at public board meetings."
She has been under the Trust's mental health services for a number of years which led her to join the Trust as a governor in 2021. Having only completed her three-year term in February, Tallia decided to step forward for the co-chair role on the new council.
She also brings an additional wealth of knowledge gained through her role as vice co-chair of an independent board in adult social care services in Norfolk, a tenant board member and sub-committee member in social housing, a school governor, and qualified primary school teacher.
Tallia added: "I live with complex trauma and dissociation and I have been under a service of some description since I was a child because I was a looked after child. For a long time, I had a very rocky relationship with NSFT but I gained massive insight and understanding into exactly what was going on with the Trust when I stepped up as a governor.
"This is only the beginning, but I'm hopeful that our council will take the Trust forward in its improvement journey, ensuring that service users and carers are at the centre of services. Trust is one of the key foundations for any organisation, and we need to rebuild that in our communities."
Joining Tallia on the Trust-wide council are six service users and carers who were elected from more than 60 applicants, and five members of staff.
NSFT is working towards an additional five councils for each locality within the Trust. These councils will help to build engagement with service users, families and carers across Norfolk and Suffolk and work with the Trust-wide council to drive improvements.
Cath Byford, chief patient experience officer and deputy chief executive officer at NSFT, said: "We are incredibly proud to have Tallia join us on this important and exciting new journey.
"This is the first council of its kind within the Trust and is closely related to our ongoing work in placing service users and carers at the heart of everything we do.
"Tallia's role will be crucial in ensuring the council authentically captures the voices and views of service users, carers and those with lived experience to influence and drive forward improvements in our services."
If you would like to get in touch with the council, or you are interested in finding out more, please email: councils@nsft.nhs.uk.