HWB boards and Co-production Clenton Farquharson

20 years practical experience of training and consultancy in equality, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. Co-chair of Think Local, Act Personal Previously Chair of Birmingham LINk (Local Involvement Network). Member of Equality 2025 from Health watch Birmingham board member

Introduction 1. Key issues for Health and Wellbeing boards 2. What is Co-production? 3. What is Making it Real? 4. How can Health and Wellbeing boards benefit from Co-production and Making it Real?

Key issues for Health and Wellbeing boards Although Chair of Health watch invited to HWB – one person does not have all the skills and knowledge to represent whole sector Risk of only involving usual suspects General public often have little or no understanding of what is a HWBs/ or what is JSNAs How do you go about capturing the voices that are never heard? How can you understand what is important to disabled people and older people, young people? etc.

What is co-production? To co-produce is to make something together. Co-production is not just a word, it is not just a concept, it is a meeting of minds coming together to find shared solutions.

In practice, co-production involves people who use services being consulted, included and working together from the start to the end of any project that affects them. When co-production works best, people who use services and carers are valued by all involved as equal partners, can share power and have influence over decisions made.

Making it Real A set of 26 I statements developed by people who use services, carers and citizens supporting organisations to move towards more personalised and community based support

Making it Real - benefits for Health and Well Being boards? A voluntary movement for change – not directive but inspirational Co-production – the quality of the conversation is important Acknowledge gaps and find solutions Connections and learning across the UK

We would encourage all Health and Wellbeing boards to sign up to Making it Real. In tough times we need something to aspire to…. 540 MIR organisations so far