What is MECC?

Making Every Contact Count (MECC) is an approach to behaviour change that supports staff to make the most of the everyday interactions that they have with people using Open Conversation Skills.

MECC encourages staff and volunteers who have contact with the public to use these opportunities and skills to engage in brief conversations on how they might make positive changes to their health or wellbeing and what it will look like for them when that change is made. The change could be in a health-related sector like stopping smoking or reducing their stress or it could be in a wider area of their lifestyle such as housing or money management. By starting the conversation in a non-judgemental and open manner, the MECC practitioner can provide a good foundation for the conversation to lead to a behaviour change through the individuals own discussion.

MECC is a simple behaviour change intervention, which supports national, regional and local ambitions to embed an ill-health prevention and population health approach across health and care.

Where can I go for further information?

For further information and guidance, there are two national resources:

• Making Every Contact Count e-learning – this is on the NHS elearning for healthcare website.  Search “MECC” and register or log in to access the training.
• Behaviour Change Development Framework – this is a national framework and toolkit to help you identify what behaviour change training you or your workforce need to support people to make positive changes in their lives.

In addition, in South Gloucestershire, information about healthy lifestyles and services can be viewed here:

• South Gloucestershire healthy lifestyle service information
• First Contact scheme information

For further information about MECC please email healthylifestyles@southglos.gov.uk or call 01454 864005.