Commitment To Co Production

For the disabled people and carers who spend hours and hours of their limited time, health and strength on trying to improve matters for themselves and others. Perhaps it’s time to look for a different approach.

Remember it is the authorities who need our voices, firstly to attend, meetings and secondly or more importantly legally via the plethora of legislative requirements that require local and national governmental organisations to take heed of what people are saying. Where this latter isn’t done properly it can be a timely and costly endeavour for such departments. For too long now these organisations have got away with patting our heads leading to frustration and exhaustion.

Perhaps it’s time to put some power behind the rhetoric of nothing about us without us and person centred approaches. After years of this what little improvements people have clawed at in the past seem to these days be slowly and erroneously being whittled away. It’s almost like every avenue or slight respite is being looked in to in effect to turn our societies in to cash cows for the rich. In all the rhetoric even those charities, voluntary organisations, and specific disability related groups are all clambering for the buck, rather than what’s best for the greater good.

Just see the ads for volunteers everywhere, get involved in caring, or support our cause. Yet take the time to go to companies’ house or the charities commission (it’s all there) and see the amounts of monies being made by the people running these organisations in salaries, bonuses and expenses. I’m not just talking the big names either, even at local levels dig a bit and you see ex managers or ex-employees all clambering to make it. Everyone has a right to money I dent dispute this, but some of the sums are questionable, and the cost to the most venerable in our societies cannot be justified.

So is there another way, can the people actually have power and make a difference. Yes we can but we need to ensure that there are clear guidelines in place. This can only happen if we take charge, and demand outcome based co production.

In effect any meeting, involvement or co production activity should have clear SMART plans that are trackable. We need to see the Socratic outcomes of what, when, where, why, what and who. No more let’s talk or get involved. But clear plans that show movement, improvements and achievement.

With this in mind I propose that the powers that be seriously consider a Co Production Charter. Which commits and enforces Co production principles on Equality, Parity and most important movement forward.

Here’s a Draft of how I envisage this could look like.

(Name) Value and Support the principles of
Coproduction.
In order to reaffirm the authority’s commitments to co producing we are producing this charter of what all our business, community partners whether part of an organisation or an individual can expect from the authority.

It accepts that a co produced approach to working with business and services users
is the best use of resources. It acknowledges that partnership working saves time, money and offers better outcomes for all. It also acknowledges that the end user is an important participant in developing
plans, polices and process that are through and user friendly.

We will value and respect participation and participants at all times.

We will listen and implement co produced ideas. If it is not possible to implement any
idea a clear indication will be given within a specified timeframe explaining the reason
for not doing or including the idea.

Commitment one
At all times all those that are involved will within legal parameters openly share, work
and ideas at the earliest stage and work together to produce the necessary policy,
process or procedures. Transparency and honesty will be the core principles to our
co production strategy.

Commitment two
At all times internal and external partners will be kept informed with clear start and
finish dates for the individual parts of the project.

Commitment three.
Clear ownership and responsibility will be shown as to who the facilitator and
manager is of the plan, process or policy.

Commitment four
All changes to the plan process or policy will be tracked and clear action plans put
into place with start dates and finish at the beginning of the plan

Commitment five
All reasonable ideas will be considered and included and tracked by date and name
in to the master copy of the policy, process or plan.

Commitment six
A response will be given by the facilitator or manager, which again will be clearly
dated and tracked showing whether the principles an ideas suggested by partners
are to be included. If they can’t be included a clear indication why be given as to why
it may not be feasible, even if this includes producing cost data.

Commitment seven
All pieces of work will show clearly via a “you said, we did” document celebrating the
co produced work and acknowledging the partners in co production whether as an
organisation or individuals.

Commitment eight
All process polices or plans will carry a review date and will be reviewed annually.
Partners (who wish to) will be given further opportunities to participate in changing,
amending and updating the document.

Commitment nine

Where issues or movement does not occur, a investigation as to why work hasn’t been completed will be carried out. If no movement occurs within two months then sufficient resources and steps will be taken from all parties to ensure continuous improvement.

Commitment ten.

All parties will sign to this commitment and offer and ensure adequate resources and personal are dedicated to the completion of all co produced work.