10 top tips for embracing co-production with service users, staff and family carers
Have a person-centred approach. Throughout the entire process, assess the needs of the person you are aiming to involve and work with them.Be clear about what you are trying to co-produce, who is actually involved and ensure that any service users and carers are clear of their role, the demand on their time and if and how any remuneration will be offered.
Include the service-users/family carers from the beginning. This saves time, money and reduces the number of changes needed. You may need to offer additional support to truly involve people and in some cases offer training. True co-production involves all key stakeholders and you should involve staff at all levels in the organisation, this will also help in implementing changes to practice should it be required.
Any offer of payment/ compensation needs to be realistic and non-tokenistic. You are consulting with experts by experience and that expertise should be recognised at inappropriate level.Any remuneration should be clear at the start of the process before people are asked to take part.
Participants in co-production need to feel valued and treated as an equal, especially if involved in a group setting. Avoid using internal jargon–this makes some people feel that they are of less value and their views and opinions are less important than that of paid staff or professionals. People can soon feel disenfranchised from the group and be less likely to contribute or support other co-production projects in the future.
Co-direct instead of solely co-producing. Inform the participants of the outcomes and include them in the delivery of the results of the projects. Involve people in the entire process. Do not work with a service user/family carer for a ‘tick box’. Involve them throughout the process and in the decision-making so that they feel valued and appreciated.
Be open and honest. Make sure there is a budget identified and it is adequate to involve everyone who is needed. Co-production and engagement may require incentive for participation. In a group setting, incentives are offered to make people feel equal. Remuneration is more important in group settings than for individuals commissioned for completion of one-off projects.
Diversity and representation–often the same people repeatedly participate in co-production. Aim to diversify the demographic of participants for more perspectives from seldom-heard groups, gain a better understanding of service users and subsequently, achieve more effective results.
If co-production work requires service users, family carers and support staff to work outside of their normal or agreed hours how this is rewarded should be clear at the start of the process for example in a residential home or home support service it can be difficult to involve support staff whose hours are 100% care hours.
Accessibility - people's travel costs should be undertaken by the organisation. Participants whether they are paid staff, service users or family carers should not be ‘out of pocket’ to engage and co-produce. To make the process fully accessible you may need to provide transport.
Some individuals may not be in a position to accept financial payments as experts by experience this may be due to issues with welfare benefits or just that they do not wish to be financially rewarded. There are other ways of showing appreciation which give value to their contributions for example gift cards, certificates, support with training. Financial remuneration however should always be offered in the first instance.
