Sandwell Council has worked together with Sandwell residents, health, social care and third sector providers, to launch Sandwell's first ever place-based 'Co-production Charter'.
Co-production is a way of working that involves people who use health and care services, carers and communities in equal partnership; and which engages groups of people at the earliest stages of service design, development and evaluation.
The charter sets out a common and consistent approach to co-production for provider organisations across the borough; whilst also supporting professionals by sharing best practice and information. It incorporates a wide range of feedback from professional and residents alike.
Led by the council’s Adult Social Care Commissioning, the charter was launched earlier this month at an event attended by representatives from organisations, carers and individuals who have worked together over the past 12 months, to share a wealth of insight around their experiences and involvement.
Benefits of the new approach ensure people with lived experience are able to ‘have a say’ about the service, care or support they receive. This often leads to more effective and useful provision that meets people needs. The principles of co-production and engagement can be applied to many services.
Recently, people using our 12 Week Pathway service within Adult Social Care took part in an interview process. They fed back to say how empowering it was, both to be part of the panel and to have a voice in the recruitment of new roles within the commissioning team.
The commissioning team has engaged with over 200 carers to design a new carer support service in Sandwell. Their views and experiences have been used to set out the functions of the new service.
Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Jackie Taylor, said:
“Sandwell’s place-based Co-production Charter firms up expectations around co-production by setting out agreed principles for involving people in decision making. It was insightful to talk to people with first-hand experience of using our services and carers about their involvement in this trailblazing work.
“I'm really excited about the next steps in getting Sandwell's communities galvanised around embedding co-production in our everyday way of working, which will be supported by Healthwatch Sandwell.”