Abstract
This abstract highlights how co-production ensures that one of the most vulnerable groups in society has their voices heard in shaping their health and social care. Co-production facilitated the creation of new partnerships, collaborations and alliances which have been fundamental in making the involvement of service users, families and staff relevant, embedded and sustainable.
Who is it for?
There are approximately 1700 individuals with learning disabilities in Belfast; they face many barriers to involvement in decisions that affect their lives, including a lack of social capital, networks and influence in society. They have poorer access to opportunities for social, educational, employability, health and wellbeing development. This work addresses a need to create pathways for involvement in LD services and to build the capacity and skills of service users, carers and staff for involvement and co-production.
In a climate of widening health inequalities, it was key to establish an involvement structure to address barriers that could not be addressed by any one group on their own.
What did you do?
- Belfast Trust decided to close Day Centres in north Belfast (then viewed as an outdated service), this was overturned following a protest from carers.
- The Trust gave a commitment to co-produce the future of Day Centres in Belfast.
- Appreciative Inquiry (AI) methodology was used which focuses on what is good about a service and how it can be improved. The traditional approach often focuses on what is not working.
- Provided training in AI methodology to 3 carers and 5 staff, who co-developed questionnaires and facilitated sessions involving carers, staff and service users on how the service should look to make it more user-friendly and progressive.
- The Learning Disability (LD) Forum was established (staff, carers and service users) to help shape the service.
- Findings were presented which resulted in development of priorities. Day Centres were kept open and action plans developed to improve the services and strengthen involvement.
What results did you get? What impact did you have?
- Strong partnership structures in place through the LD Forum. This has built positive relationships and trust.
- Service user and carer expertise valued as a positive to:
oCreate solutions
oProvide evidence to support business cases for service improvement
oImprove common understanding of services and constraints
- Improved communication
- Carer Involvement Lead post created
What is the learning for the international audience?
Key learning on building and maintaining creative partnerships, collaborations and alliances in co-production:
- Develop skills for staff (including facilitation skills) to support partnership working
- Develop capacity of service users and carers as equals in co-production
- Champion co-production
oEmbed co-production structures and assurance processes into core working practices
oProtect staff time
oBuild co-production into the design of care pathways, service development and review/evaluation of services
What are the next steps?
- Continue to review involvement processes – regular feedback and accountability
- Strengthen and improve communication with families and LD services
- Share successes on what works