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Co-production

Co-production is essentially deciding together: something that fits naturally with Equal Care’s cooperative and sociocratic foundations.

It’s about designing, delivering and reviewing support and services with people, not for them. It recognises the value of lived experience and brings together the knowledge of people who give and receive care and support, enabling better decisions and better outcomes.

Rather than assuming professionals know best, co-production says: everyone has insight to offer and the best solutions come when we build them together.

Why Equal Care chose to co-produce

A note from Emma, Equal Care’s founder:

“We chose co-production because it’s the only approach that truly makes sense if you believe in shared power. From the start, Equal Care has been about bringing people together across traditional boundaries: givers and receivers of care, professionals and families, organisations and communities.

Co-production isn’t just a buzzword for us. It’s a way of making decisions that honours people’s autonomy, dignity and experience. It’s about asking questions together, working through disagreements, and taking joint responsibility for what we create. We know it’s harder than doing things top-down, but it’s also richer, fairer, and ultimately leads to better care.”

Key Principles of Co-production

All participants have equal power and status in the process, ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard and valued.

Mutual exchange of resources, skills, and knowledge between service users and providers, benefiting all parties involved.

Involving a diverse range of stakeholders to ensure that the services or policies reflect the needs and preferences of the entire community.

Open communication and information sharing throughout the process to build trust and ensure that everyone understands how decisions are made.

Creating long-term, sustainable solutions that can adapt to changing needs and contexts.

Practices of Co-production

Service users and providers collaborate from the outset to identify needs, set goals, and design services or policies.

Decisions are made collectively, with all participants having an equal say in the outcomes.

Both service users and providers are involved in delivering the services, utilizing their respective skills and resources.

Ongoing evaluation and feedback loops allow for continuous improvement and adaptation based on real-world experiences.

Benefits of Co-production

Services are more likely to meet the actual needs and preferences of users, leading to higher satisfaction and better outcomes.

Service users feel more empowered and valued, leading to greater engagement and active participation.

Combining diverse perspectives can lead to more innovative and effective solutions.

Co-production fosters a sense of community and mutual support, strengthening social bonds and resilience.

By leveraging the skills and resources of service users, co-production can lead to more efficient use of resources.

Challenges and Considerations

Like any meaningful group work, co-production takes effort. Some of the common challenges include:

  • Power dynamics: It’s easy for traditional hierarchies to creep back in. Ongoing care is needed to keep things balanced.

  • Time and energy: It takes longer to do things together - and to do them well.

  • Cultural shifts: Moving from ‘doing for’ to ‘doing with’ takes unlearning and practice.

  • Support and learning: People may need time, encouragement and training to feel confident in co-production spaces.

Conclusion

Co-production is not a quick fix - it’s a long-term commitment to shared power, mutual respect and collective creativity. But when it’s done with care, it builds stronger communities and better services.

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