Doing with
Jolie Goodman, Lived Experience Co-production Lead
This week, 30 June to 4 July is Co-production week, the theme is ‘Innovation through Co-production’, it’s all about how co-production can support innovation and demonstrating the impact and difference that it makes.
At FoNS Wendy Minhinnett and I were appointed as Lived Experience Co-production Leads last October. Our role is to facilitate co-production in the NHS England Culture of Care Ward Manager Leadership Development Programme. The Programme will reach over 180 Ward Managers through 12 cohorts. Each cohort is made up of seven workshops, three in person and four online, MHLDA Ward Manager Leadership Development Programme
One of the workshops is on co-production and I use this image of Wendy and me to start the workshops I co-facilitate, as developing it was one of the first things that we did at FoNS.
As this is Co-production week, I wanted to talk about our experiences of co-production at FoNS, think about innovation and ask colleagues to creatively think about the difference co-production has made both to the Ward Manager Programme and the organisation more broadly.
And I also wanted to ask: How could you work more co-productively?
Jolie: My own perspective
I have worked from a survivor perspective in mental health for over two decades, in participation, involvement and latterly in co-production. My Lived Experience is of being detained under section on an acute mixed ward.
The Culture of Care Programme is fundamentally about changing culture in in-patient mental health settings. I see ward managers as uniquely placed to change culture being sandwiched between senior management and staff, patients and carers. They can embody and role model new ways of working across mental health trusts. Co-production on acute wards is complex. To move from the medical model or doing to, to the social model – nothing about without us – of doing with is challenging.
Nevertheless, bringing co-production into the Ward Manager Programme and into FoNS feels very innovative to me. I have particularly enjoyed co-producing a workshop on Power and Powerlessness for the programme, the theme of which came from FoNS’s first Co-production Event. I aim to use my Lived Experience to make a difference. Working co-productively at FoNS is a hopeful and exciting opportunity for positive change.
Wendy, Lived Experience Co-production Lead
From the excitement of getting the role to the reality of enabling co-production in practice – there’s been a lot to reflect on over the past eight months. So much, that I sat staring at a blank document for half an hour, not knowing where to begin!
So, I decided to start right there – with a new blank page! Because that’s where all true co-production should begin.
The reality? It wasn’t a blank page when we started this role. But that hasn’t stopped us from co-producing, and creating new pages along the way.
A co-production poem
The Culture of Care Standards – a collective vision,
True co-production led to the FoNS commission.
A Leadership Development Programme for Ward Managers to do,
With authentic co-production threaded all the way through.
Two lived experience co-production leads joined the team,
Helping to bring to life the Culture of Care dream.
Working with FoNS staff and partners too
There was much work to do!
Co-designing sessions side by side,
Really listening, with open minds.
Meetings, PowerPoints, and cups of tea –
A shared journey for all to see.
The ups, the downs, the twists and turns,
Laughter, joy, learning, and concerns.
Sharing theories, working through confusion,
Developing positive practice around inclusion.
We’ve journeyed together along the way,
Valuing people every day.
Different views brought to the table,
At times, the work felt unstable.
Keeping faith when doubts persist,
Holding uncertainty, taking risks.
It takes extra time to see it through
True co-production is not easy to do.
But through it all came strength and pride,
When true co-production was applied.
Impact felt, a difference made,
Innovation naturally conveyed.
I’m proud of the work we’re continuing to do
Learning, evolving, seeing it through.
Writing new lines and pages each day,
Co-production is now part of the FoNS way.
Here’s to more blank pages and working with each other to co-create what comes next!
The ward managers
This is taken from the Mid Term Evaluation for the first three groups of ward managers:
Colleagues at FoNS
Joanne Bosanquet, FoNS CEO
For me, as a public health nurse, ‘doing with’ was the approach I developed after I completed a degree in health studies. We deep dived into the theory and philosophy of lay health beliefs, medical dominance and power. It all made sense to me and I never went back. I still ask myself how I’d got through 3 years of my nurse training without knowing this stuff?
I had to unlearn quite a lot but I knew it was the right thing to do. If we, as professionals assume we know best, then more often than not, we are the fool! You can fool yourself that it’s all going to work out just fine but if we really think about it, and we decide to be brave, collaboration and partnerships create a magical space where we can be vulnerable and learn together.
That’s what happened in FoNS when we welcomed Jolie and Wendy into our team.
What a wonderful whirlwind of energy, curiosity, creativity and passion. We are finding our rhythm and learning 24/7. I can’t wait to see what we’ll be sharing this time next year. Stay tuned!
Dr Kate Sanders, Lead for MHLDA Inpatient Ward Manager Leadership Development Programme
Co-production has created many opportunities to listen to different perspectives with many positive consequences. These include personal and organisational learning and action. It is not always comfortable and needs to be given time, which can be a challenge, but the outcomes for all involved are worth it.
Thanks for sharing your co-production zine Kate!
Giselle Cope, Person-centred Practice Facilitator
Giselle sent me an image to represent how she felt about co-production. Thanks Giselle!