One of the things I like best about being involved in the SCIE Co-production Network is that SCIE practices what it preaches. There's always a danger that approaches to health and social care that seem innovative and radical at first sight become diluted or recast when powerful people and organisations get hold of them but this isn't the case with SCIE and co-production.
I first became involved in the network through being part of the group that developed a Co-production Learning Programme for SCIE Staff. This project provides a good example of how the principles of co-production can be put into practice.
The development of the programme involved people with phsyical disabilities, people with learning difficulties, older people, care leavers and people with mental health problems working alongside SCIE staff and associates. The process resulted in a one day training programme that enabled participants to understand the principles and values of co-production and learn how to implement and embed a co-production approach in their work.
It was a real pleasure to be involved in something that allowed people from a wide variety of different backgrounds to work together with a common aim. To enable this to happen, the project created the conditions necessary to allow for equitable relationships between all participants, which involved paying due consideration to issues like the timing of meetings, prompt payment of fees and expenses, the provision of accessible information, and modelling co-production principles and values in the way in which things were done.
Not only was it rewarding to play a part in a project that modelled co-production in action but it was also pleasing to be involved in something that made excellent use of finite resources to facilitate a productive process with a concrete and valuable end result.
SCIE - Co-production in social care: What it is and how to do it
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