Focus on Co-production in service design

Posted by Devon Partnership Trust in Mental health on 24th May, 2023

Involving people who have lived experience of mental health issues in the redesign of services is a key element of the Community Mental Health Framework. Colleagues from DPT, Livewell Southwest CIC and the Devon Mental Health Alliance recently attended an NHS England South West event to share how our commitment to developing a culture of co-production is having an impact.

Sonja Manton, Director of Strategy, Victoria Burns, Clinical Director for Community Development and SRO for the CMHF, and Sara Traynor, Co-production lead, were joined by Ian Veale, Directorate Manager, Adult Community Mental Health services, LSW, and Tom Cox, Programme Manager, DMHA, and Natalie Campbell, Senior Co-production & Innovation Manager, Rethink Mental Illness.

Sara Traynor said: “One of the promises we made when we began work to design our services under the CMHF was to develop a culture of co-production, involving patients, families and carers in everything we do.

“As a result, our Experts by Experience played an essential role in co-producing system-wide models for community rehab, eating disorders and complex emotional needs / personality disorders, and continue to have a powerful voice during implementation, bringing their invaluable experience and knowledge.

“Attending the event gave us a great opportunity to hear about the work of other Trusts in the region, as well as offering ideas about how we can build on the work we’ve done, particularly around co-production. There are some real opportunities to look at enhancing the involvement of our experts by experience which will in turn improve the lives of people using our services.”

Natalie Campbell gave an update on the DMHA project focusing on community listening, making sure that the voices of individuals and community partners directly inform the work of the voluntary and charity sector partners as well as NHS services.

Other programmes from across the South West region presented on a range of aspects of CMHF including:

• Bristol, Swindon & Wiltshire: Learning So Far
• Cornwall: Complex Emotional Difficulties Peer Support
• Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire / Avon & Wiltshire MH Partnership:  Eating Disorders, with a focus on the relationship with VCSE, and co-production with the younger demographic
• Gloucestershire: Model Development and ARRS
• Somerset: Moving Away from Care Programme Approach

Katie Holmes, Adult Mental Health Programme Manager, NHS England South West, said: “The aim of the event was to bring colleagues together from across the region to recognise and share the fantastic work that has taken place across the South West implementing the Community Mental Health Framework. It gave us an opportunity to highlight the hard work, innovation and success stories in delivering the objectives of the biggest change in mental health services in 30 years.”