Find out how we launched our Co-Production Charter within Adult Social Care and how we are putting it into practice across Sandwell.
Sandwell Council worked together with Sandwell residents, health, social care and third sector providers, to launch Sandwell's first ever place-based 'Co-production Charter' in January 2024.
We worked together to involve people who use health and care services, carers and communities in equal partnership; engaging groups of people at the earliest stages of the Charter's design, development and evaluation.
The charter sets out a common and consistent approach to co-production for provider organisations across the borough; whilst also supporting professionals by sharing best practice and information. It incorporates a wide range of feedback from professional and residents alike.
Benefits of the approach ensure people with lived experience are able to ‘have a say’ about the service, care or support they receive. This often leads to more effective and useful provision that meets people needs.
Our video explains more about how the principles of co-production and engagement can be applied to many services and ways of working.
We are continuing to put co-production into practice as part of our wider commitment to embedding it across the council. To support this, we have delivered a series of internal co-production sessions for staff.
These sessions cover Sandwell’s definition and models of co-production, its benefits, and challenges, and how to apply it in day-to-day roles.
Originally developed by Changing our Lives in 2024, the sessions have been adapted and delivered by Adult Social Care co-production staff to colleagues across all directorates, supporting a ‘one council’ approach.
The report presents feedback from attendees of Changing our Lives sessions and internal sessions.