Co-production Week 2023

Co-production goes beyond involving or consulting with the people we support. It begins with what everyone can give or do, and enables everyone to work together towards shared service ownership. It helps teams to move away from focusing on people’s needs and doing things to or for them.

Anything can be co-produced, but it doesn’t have to be everything. It’s good to have one or two key projects that offer the potential of most positive impact on a service.

Although it isn’t about one person leading on something, some may not be ready for such equitable ways of working. As long as the invitation remains open, people are free to participate as much or as little as they wish. They can agree on the terms of a project to enable anyone to contribute what they can, when they can.

One of our strategic pillars is Co-produced services. We help everyone to understand the benefits of working co-productively and we ensure it runs through the culture of our organisation.

The people we support also have opportunities to help choose who we employ. Everyone’s expertise are valuable, and people participate through meeting candidates, attending interview panels, and identifying employee qualities and skills, which directly informs who we recruit.

We use Making It Real, based on Think Local Act Personal’s national framework, for co-productive service action planning and improvement. People we support and staff work together to plan and achieve positive change.

Here are some examples of great co-productive practice across Making Space:

Our Making Change Group brings together people who use services, carers, volunteers, Trustees, and staff to work together on many organisational projects, including Making It Real, employee recruitment, Experience Surveys, and annual events.

Kingshill residential home demonstrates the true spirit of co-production. Their Making It Real action plans show where people's input has led to positive change. They address every point of resident insight, determine where improvement is needed and their actions taken.

Residents and staff arrange many things together, including trips out, arts and crafts, parties and celebrations, national and international days, baking group, gardening group, community coffee mornings, fundraising, and a service newsletter. Residents assist with recruiting new employees and are actively encouraged into supported employment and volunteering. Residents participate in fundraising such as for local organisation The Brick, which offers services to people who are homeless, in poverty or debt.

Derby City Dementia service offers amazing opportunities for people to shape the service:

• The Musical Memories group is hosted by an inspirational volunteer.
• The Sporting Memories group has active and engaging sessions around sport.
• The Let’s Make It Craft Group began from someone supported who was keen on brightening up hospital waiting rooms.
• The Lifting the Cloud group promotes positive change and increases accessibility.
• The SEWA group runs in conjunction with the Indian Community Centre and has co-created many things including a tree exhibition at Derby Arboretum.
• The Capability Garden, in partnership with Derby Parks and Derby City Council is maintained by volunteers and is open to all.
• The Dug Out Allotment enables people to enjoy gardening, socialisation, and grow produce that is used across the community.

At Rotherham Dementia carers service, carers and volunteers have a great influence in the service, supporting the activity programme and welcoming visitors from the community to experience their co-produced groups featuring music and dancing. Sandra, a volunteer at the service, has been recognised nationally for her fundraising efforts, with all proceeds going directly back into the service. Roy, another volunteer, values everyone having an equal say in how services are developed, and has worked alongside staff to offer Dementia information and support training courses to carers across the town.

At Rivacre residential home, the service newsletter is written by residents and showcases all their achievements. At monthly meetings residents take notes and everything is valued. The service boasts of a gardening club, cinema club, events for national days, and bake off events. People are active in community events and activities, such as city and culture tours and Green Gyms. Working with local businesses has reduced costs of tickets and memberships.

For more information about our co-production projects and opportunities, please contact our team at co-production@makingspace.co.uk .