Part 3. Doing co-production
CymraegEnglish
Download Part 3 as a pdf
Co-production will look different depending on the kind of organisation you’re in, what your role is, and how much scope you have to influence the shape of services or strategy. There may be systemic barriers to implementing co-production as widely as you wish to, but there is usually something you can do co-productively wherever you are. Some co-production is always better than none, and it all counts - anything that makes a positive difference to the lives of service users and carers is worth doing.
Like we’ve said before, co-production is an approach and a way of thinking, so it’s not a process as such with a set number of steps to do in the “right” order. However, we can offer some pointers and things to consider to help you get started - with the caveat that they are presented in an indicative order, but you will keep revisiting them all as you develop your co-production practice. If you are already doing co-production with service users and/or carers, this might offer some additional ideas! The key is to keep checking in with the 5 values of co-production (see Part 1) in whichever context you operate in. Below we consider what this might look like at the three levels of co-production.
Building your co-production plan
Now you’ve read through what co-production looks like at individual, group and strategic level, you will have a clearer idea of where your work and potential co-production projects with carers can sit. You may want to think through translating the values into actions in your specific context, which you can do on your own as a thought experiment, or as a team with your colleagues.
You can download this canvas on a pdf template to print in A4 or A3.
As a follow-up, you might like to
- Discuss what you've been learning with your team.
- Watch these short videos from the Scottish Co-production Network:
- ‘Better chance than that’ (1’30”) about change led by people recovering from addiction;
- ‘My Opinion’ (2’15”) in which Jamie, a parent with learning difficulties, tells what it feels like when citizens aren't taken into account in service design and delivery;
- ‘The F Word’ (1’20”) about not getting it right the first time and learning from “failure”.
- Check out the National Principles for Public Engagement in Wales on the Third Sector Support Wales website. (A login is required to access the resources but registration is free.) These are useful guidelines for behaviours and practical approaches to deliver great person-centred engagement and co-production.
- Meet as a team and fill in your co-production action plan canvas together: what and how are you going to co-produce with your carers?.
