Much to my surprise, I was asked to write a blog post by the Cornwall TCA team to introduce the recent film we have produced with the support of social enterprise Learn to Lead about the developments in Co-production across young people’s work and social care. Part of my role as Engagement and Co-production Officer is to share the learning from these experiences.
It is about the passion, belief and evidence that has gone into working together (Co-production) in Cornwall, which has made services for young people and individuals supported by social care services better. The film covers several projects and has input from key individuals including young people, project workers, Cllr Andrew Wallis (the lead council member for Young People) and council staff. I know there can be bad feeling about the word co-production because of overuse, misuse and misunderstanding, but let’s not ignore a great idea just because we're fed up with a word.
Simply put, we can improve services by working together, everyone equally taking responsibility for services with benefits for all. We are aware some things have worked better than others, and that we don’t know everything and need to keep developing and learning as we go, but why not think big? Why not believe that working together with individuals involved in services, community groups, families, providers from the voluntary and private sectors including charities, GPs, care homes, local enterprises and businesses, as well as local authority and NHS health providers, we can make really excellent services for everyone in Cornwall?
Don't believe? Watch the video below and see – it will inspire you too!
https://vimeo.com/146922751