Lived Experience Participation Framework™

SAFECHAIN™ Voluntary Sector Framework Series

Framework Purpose

The Lived Experience Participation Framework™ establishes a governance architecture for ensuring that people with lived experience are meaningfully involved in the design, evaluation, improvement and governance of services, policies and systems that affect their lives.

The framework recognises lived experience as a valuable form of knowledge that can identify hidden harms, systemic barriers, service failures and opportunities for meaningful reform.

Framework Definition

Lived Experience Participation Framework™ is a governance framework that embeds meaningful, ethical and accountable participation of people with lived experience throughout organisational decision-making, service design, research, policy development and system improvement.

Organising Principle

Those who experience systems often understand their failures, barriers and opportunities for improvement in ways that cannot be identified through data alone.

Intended Users

• Charities

• Voluntary Sector Organisations

• Public Authorities

• NHS Organisations

• Local Authorities

• Justice Organisations

• Domestic Abuse Services

• Survivor Support Organisations

• Advocacy Organisations

• Research Organisations

• Policy Makers

• Commissioners

• Service Designers

• Governance Leaders

• Community Organisations

Framework Domains

Domain 1 — Participation Governance Integrity™

Establishing structures, responsibilities and accountability for lived experience involvement.

Focus areas:

• governance models;

• participation leadership;

• accountability;

• ethical oversight;

• decision-making authority.

Domain 2 — Authentic Voice Integrity™

Ensuring lived experience participation is meaningful, representative and respected.

Focus areas:

• authentic voice;

• diversity of experience;

• inclusion;

• avoiding tokenism;

• meaningful influence.

Domain 3 — Safe Participation Integrity™

Creating environments where people can participate safely and confidently.

Focus areas:

• psychological safety;

• trauma awareness;

• safeguarding;

• boundaries;

• emotional wellbeing.

Domain 4 — Co-Design Integrity™

Embedding lived experience into the development of services, policies and systems.

Focus areas:

• service design;

• innovation;

• problem solving;

• collaboration;

• improvement.

Domain 5 — Decision Influence Integrity™

Ensuring participation leads to meaningful impact rather than consultation without change.

Focus areas:

• influence;

• accountability;

• feedback loops;

• decision tracking;

• organisational response.

Domain 6 — Representation Integrity™

Ensuring participation reflects a range of experiences and avoids over-reliance on individual voices.

Focus areas:

• inclusion;

• accessibility;

• diversity;

• equal opportunity;

• community representation.

Domain 7 — Trauma-Informed Participation™

Recognising that participation may involve discussing experiences of harm, loss or injustice.

Focus areas:

• dignity;

• choice;

• control;

• support;

• reducing re-traumatisation.

Domain 8 — Compensation and Recognition Integrity™

Ensuring lived experience contributors are valued appropriately.

Focus areas:

• recognition;

• fair payment;

• transparency;

• contribution value;

• ethical engagement.

Domain 9 — Information and Confidentiality Integrity™

Protecting personal information shared through participation activities.

Focus areas:

• privacy;

• confidentiality;

• consent;

• information governance;

• safe handling.

Domain 10 — Accessibility and Inclusion Integrity™

Removing barriers that prevent meaningful participation.

Focus areas:

• disability access;

• communication needs;

• digital access;

• cultural inclusion;

• practical support.

Domain 11 — Accountability and Assurance Integrity™

Measuring whether participation is effective and meaningful.

Focus areas:

• evaluation;

• monitoring;

• reporting;

• feedback;

• improvement.

Domain 12 — Continuous Learning Integrity™

Embedding learning from lived experience into organisational development.

Focus areas:

• system learning;

• reform;

• innovation;

• organisational change;

• improvement cycles.

Intended Outcomes

• Meaningful involvement of lived experience

• Improved service design

• Stronger survivor voice

• Reduced systemic barriers

• Better identification of hidden harm

• Increased trust in organisations

• Improved accountability

• More responsive services

• Stronger community relationships

• Evidence-informed reform

Relationship to SAFECHAIN™ Frameworks

Foundational Frameworks

• Participation Integrity™

• Evidence Integrity™

• Disclosure Integrity™

• Institutional Fragmentation™

• Process Integrity™

• Legal Duty of Care™

• Operational Law™

Voluntary Sector Frameworks

• Charity Safeguarding Governance Framework™

• Advocacy Evidence Integrity Framework™

• Voluntary Sector Institutional Memory Framework™

• Trustee Safeguarding Assurance Framework™

Justice and Safeguarding Frameworks

• Victim and Witness Participation Framework™

• Judicial Participation Integrity Framework™

• Tribunal Participation Integrity Framework™

• Family Justice Safeguarding Framework™

Digital Frameworks

• Survivor Privacy by Design™

• Trauma-Informed Digital Design™

• Trust by Design™

Academy Pathway

Lived Experience Participation™ Professional Programme

Ethical Co-Design and Participation Leadership Programme

Survivor Voice Governance Programme

Standards Alignment

Supports development of:

• Lived Experience Participation Standards

• Co-Design Standards

• Survivor Engagement Standards

• Participation Governance Standards

• Ethical Research Standards

• Community Engagement Standards

• Service Improvement Standards

Seal of Integrity™

The SAFECHAIN™ Seal of Integrity™ recognises organisations committed to meaningful lived experience participation through dignity, inclusion, accountability, safety and genuine influence over decisions that affect people’s lives.

Copyright

© SAFECHAIN™. All Rights Reserved.

The Lived Experience Participation Framework™ is proprietary intellectual property developed by SAFECHAIN™ and forms part of the SAFECHAIN™ Voluntary Sector Framework Series.

No part of this framework may be copied, reproduced, adapted, licensed, distributed, commercialised or incorporated into derivative frameworks without prior written permission from SAFECHAIN™.

SAFECHAIN™, Lived Experience Participation Framework™, the SAFECHAIN™ Seal of Integrity™ and associated governance architecture are protected intellectual property.