Where True Co-production Really Begins: Beyond the "Nice to Have"

Where True Co-production Really Begins: Beyond the "Nice to Have"

For too long, the term "co-production" has been treated by many organisations as a desirable, almost altruistic add-on, a "nice to have" flourish applied late in the project lifecycle. This mindset is fundamentally flawed and undermines the transformative power of genuine collaboration.

True co-production doesn't begin with a late-stage consultation, a feedback form, or a final review. It begins at the moment of inception: the spark of an idea, the identification of a need, and the definition of the problem itself.

For many of us, co-production has ALWAYS been a natural part of what we do, and we were engaged in it long before we realised that there was a discipline called "co-production".

Here's an example from my own experience....

Funding becomes available for a youth project in the local area. What's the first thing you do?

Well, I organised a "Pizza and Opinions" event to bring young people together and asked them how and where THEY'D like to see the money spent, and formed a steering group of ALL interested parties including young people, police, youth workers and local residents to design and share in making the project work as a team of equals.

It's not rocket science!

The young people get what they want, not what you THINK they want. They have "buy-in", so they will make sure that project is not abused or vandalised, and they know that their opinions are valued and respected. They have a voice! THEY can influence change. And YOU will have a better outcome.

The "Nice to Have" Fallacy

When an organisation views co-production as a supplementary step, they are essentially saying, "We'll design the solution, and then we'll ask others to validate it." This approach treats the intended beneficiaries (service users, community members, patients, etc.) as external validators rather than essential co-creators.

This often results in:

• Tokenism: Participants feel their input is sought merely to tick a box, not to genuinely influence the outcome.

• Ineffective Solutions: Solutions are designed based on assumptions or organisational priorities, leading to poor uptake and a mismatch with real-world needs.

• Wasted Resources: Significant time and money are spent developing a service that ultimately requires costly, reactive adjustments later on.
  

The shift required is a move from 'doing to or for people' to 'doing with people', starting from the foundational question: "What is the problem we are trying to solve?".

Creating an Inclusive, Collegiate Workstream

Authentic coproduction demands a radical restructuring of the workstream. It requires establishing an environment that is inclusive, collegiate, and truly reciprocal from day one.

Key Features of a Co-produced Workstream:

1. Shared Power and Decision-Making: Instead of a traditional hierarchy, a co-production steering group or workstream operates with equal standing. Organisational staff, experts, and community representatives (those with lived experience) are all compensated, respected, and given an equivalent voice in defining the goals, methods, and evaluation criteria.
   

2. Mutual Learning: The process is designed for two-way knowledge transfer. Professionals bring technical and strategic expertise, while community members bring essential, invaluable lived experience and contextual knowledge. One is not superior to the other; they are interdependent.
   

3. Accessible Processes: Meetings, documents, language, and timelines must be designed to be accessible to everyone involved. This includes considering different communication styles and time commitments, and offering necessary support (e.g., travel expenses, childcare, plain-language summaries).
   

4. Defined Roles, Shared Ownership: While roles and responsibilities are clearly defined (e.g., who handles administration, who manages budgets), the intellectual and moral ownership of the project outcome is shared equally by all participants.

The Transformative Benefits of True Co-production

The investment in genuine co-production yields profound benefits for every party involved:

Stakeholder Primary Benefits of Co-production

Service Users / Community Better Outcomes: Solutions are highly relevant, practical, and effective because they meet real needs.

Empowerment: Increased self-efficacy and confidence through having a genuine voice and influence.

Trust: Deeper trust in the services and the organisations providing them.

Organisations / Staff Innovation: Access to unique insights that traditional consultation cannot provide, leading to novel and creative solutions.

Efficiency: Reduced costs and time spent on rectifying poorly designed services. Credibility: Enhanced reputation and legitimacy within the community.

Project / Service Sustainability: Solutions are more likely to be adopted, used correctly, and maintained long-term.

Richer Data: A comprehensive understanding of the problem space, integrating both quantitative data and qualitative lived experience.

Ultimately, co-production is not a burden; it is a risk mitigation strategy and a catalyst for excellence. When we start together, we ensure that the finished product is not just good, but right.

Shift Your Starting Line

Stop viewing co-production as an optional detour and start treating it as the mandatory foundation of your work.

Challenge your next project leader: Ask them not when they plan to consult, but who is sitting at the table to define the initial problem.

Your next great idea should not be yours alone. It should be ours. If you are defining the problem without the people affected by it, you are already designing a solution that is destined to fall short.

Demand inclusion, prioritise equality, and embed co-production in your project's DNA from its earliest breath.