What is Co-production?
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, so that everyone has the opportunity to suit needs.
Co-production acknowledges that people with ‘lived experience’ of a particular condition or of being a Carer, are often best placed to advise on what support and services will make a positive difference to their lives. Done well, co-production helps to ground discussions, and to maintain a person-centred perspective.
Co-production is part of a range of approaches that includes people, involvement, participation, engagement, and consultation. It is a cornerstone of self-care, of person-centred care and of health-coaching approaches.
Co-production is a way of working that recognises everyone has a contribution to make and all input is valued equally; in other words, everyone has assets to bring to the table which are valued. Co-production is an asset based approach to public services, that enables the professionals providing, and people engaging with services to share power and responsibility, and to work together in an equal, reciprocal relationship.
It creates opportunities for people to access the support they need when they need it, and to contribute to positive change in the nature and the way services are provided.
To show our commitment to coproduction Wirral Council has developed a Co-production Charter.
The charter is a set of values and principles of working together to ensure people remain at the heart of discussions and decisions. These values have been co-produced with people and Carers in Wirral, and with a range of partners who work with us to deliver our services.