Reflections on co-production

what's bring you here today? So, um, we filled in a collaborative application to come and join the project. Um, so I'm, um I've come from and Integrated Care Foundation Trust. The acronym for that is the IC F T T and G IC f t. Um, and, um basically, um, a group of people have come together, Um, from the trust people with lived experience, um, people from the local authority, um, also from voluntary sector organisations within towns and as well, um, just to see what co production kind of looks like already in tameside and glosser

But also, um, how we can make it so that that's something that happens as a usual way of working across tameside. Um and so that was the reason for kind of doing this particular putting ourselves forward for this particular project because we we wanted, I suppose a little bit of, um a broader understanding, I guess before we embark on whatever it is that we're going to do, Um, So, yeah, so that's the reason. So what? What does coal production actually look like at the minute in tapes? Good question

Good question. Um, so it looks different across lots of different organisations, so there's some really, really good stuff happening. Um, So, for example, one of the partners that we've got involved, um, in the initial conversations around coproduction is, um health and well-being College in Ashton

Um and they've got a really good model of coproduction in that they, um, run their college with people who are experts by experience and also experts by expertise. And so they deliver courses for students. Um, with um, who have come out of maybe an acute hospital, acute mental health issues and things like that, um as part of their recovery, they'll get involved in courses and things like that

So that's something that's really good that's happening in time. Um, we've also got different things happening within the voluntary sector where there's lots of community asset based types of programmes happening. Um, so some of our community development workers from organisations like action together and the bureau will find out what it is that people want locally and, you know, make that happen with people

So we know that there's some good stuff out there, but we want to particularly, I think, within the trust itself. So and particularly in the hospital space. So within the hospitals in towns General Hospital, we want to know how co production can work within the hospital as well

Um, and more broadly across the trust. Have you got any kind of ideas for how you think that might develop? Um, so at the moment, we've got a working group of people, Like I said, um, and we're just trying to tease some of that out with the conversations that we're having with people. Um, so I think some of the things that I've heard already today are going to be really helpful to take back to that working group so that we can start developing some ideas around

I think something that Cam said just before was around the conditions for co production to happen. You know, what are the conditions you need to ensure that co production can happen? Um, and I think the working group might be able to do some of that. So it's more about creating an environment than creating, like a set of rules, or like best practise or something like that

Yeah. It's understanding what makes it work. What makes coproduction work? What do we need in order and that that that could be around

Like, what are the conditions that make it make it happen for people so that it feels an equal reciprocal process. And all of those things that we say coproduction is Do you think you've got any idea? Like, just as I didn't a guess as to what them conditions would be like putting you on the spot now. Sorry, I've obviously got personal, you know, um, opinions of what I think the conditions should be

Um, but I suppose you know, and and that's obviously going to be an important part of the process of sharing. Um, you know, I think there needs to be some understanding at all levels. You know, that We need to hear what people are saying

We need to act on what people are saying, and we need to work with people to understand how those actions can make a difference. Um, I'm not sure that we it will be something that we will get there quickly with, um I think it'll take some time to kind of tease quite a lot of this stuff out. So you think you think it's going to require a little bit of patience and stuff like that

It's going to be a long process. I think it's going to require a lot of patience. Yeah, but do you know what? What? I I'm quite new to take side as well

So I joined the organisation. The trust itself in May this year And what I've picked up already is that there's a lot of passion and enthusiasm for this. And so the time is now there's a little there's a window of opportunity

There is a definite window of opportunity. Paddy. Ok, cool

Cool. So where is it you've joined us from? Like have you have you actually travelled up here? Like, if you just No. So, um, I am I'm based in Cheshire

Um but my previous job was with the Royal College of Physicians and Patient Involvement Advisor, where we try to do co production. But it was not the right condition Coro product to happen, So Yeah, so Yeah, OK. Why? Why was that? Why did it? Why do you think it didn't happen at the time? Um I think the some institutions, I think as as steeped in history and there was, you know, a lot of I suppose, a lot of talk about co production, but I don't think there was really a kind of shared understanding of what it what it meant to actually do, Um, in practise

Um and so it was. I think it's a 5 500 year old organisation, and I think it was going to take another 500 years to get them to understand what all that meant. So I felt like it was time to move on to somewhere

And I, you know, I'm really pleased that I was able to, um to come to, you know, the trust just because obviously people want to work in this way. There is a desire for it to happen. I just think that we're we're not sure how just how to do it

Do you think you picked up some learning from it, though that's going to be valuable, Do you know, even though it was really, really difficult, Sometimes the things that like that that are challenging or sometimes the things that might not work at that particular time could be the things that, like, you know, that preach to give us the most valuable kind of inspiration. And not only that, like, you know, like knowledge and insight and stuff like that. Do you think you picked anything up that's gonna prepare you? I think, Um, so I spent three years there, and I think in that time it was all about relationships, you know, and and kind of having those real conversations with people and not feeling scared about having conversations with people who you would normally feel were maybe in a higher position than you are

You know, down some of those barriers, it really helped in that way. So it kind of built confidence exposing me to understand that, actually, we're all people and that, and we need to have conversations with people in order to understand what what the heck is going on? Um, it's about those connections, isn't it? I think that seems like a brilliant point on which to To to bring it to a close. Do you think