Imagine government agencies, policy makers, service providers sharing decision-making power with consumers and families/carers!
A nation where the voices of people with lived experience are heard, valued, debated, and then – most importantly – acted upon.
In essence, this is the definition of co-design. However, consumers and families/ carers believe that it is time to go one step further. They want to engage in co-production, enabling them to play roles in the delivery of the services that they have co-designed.
What is co-production and why is it important?
Co-production involves consumers and families/ carers at every stage of the process, reinforcing the idea that the people who use the service are best placed to help produce it. It is about progression towards “the transformation of power and control”. Co-production requires thinking about people, power, partnerships, resources and risk in ways that are very different to what has gone before in mental health services.
Importantly, it is only co-production and/or co-design if consumers and families/ carers agree that it is. This means that consumers and families/ carers must be fully involved in all aspects of co-design and co- production.
NMHCCF recommends
- Genuine co-design and co-production requires commitment and acceptance that remains true to the principles of equity, equality, diversity and purposefulness. These principles must be agreed, assured, embedded and mandated in policy and practice. All principles need to be applied in order for it to be co-design/co-production
- Genuine commitment to co-production and/or co-design needs to be properly resourced. It must be embedded from the outset to effect real change. It is important to put in place processes that can successfully measure meaningful outcomes for consumers and families/ carers and mental health service providers.
- Reform systems and processes must acknowledge and respect the contributions, experience, unique expertise, skills and knowledge of consumers and families/ carers. Any outcomes must reflect the acknowledged equal contributions of all those involved.
Download the full advoacy brief
Advocacy Brief - Co-Design and Co-Production
