“It’s been a day I’ll remember for a long time and for all the right reasons.” (Parent Carer)
“I feel grateful for being given the opportunity to speak…coming here today has made me feel better about myself.” (Young Person)
Recognised for their national best practice in co-production, in 2016 the Genuine Partnerships team was invited to join VOICES: National Alliance for Local Area Partnership Working. Co-production involves children, young people, families, practitioners and partners working jointly together in an equal and reciprocal relationship, but there are no real measures underpinning the 2014 Children and Families Act and/or SEND Code of Practice. The Alliance recognises the need to help Local Areas establish and embed recognisably good co-production. Its aims are supported by the Department for Education (DfE) and the Department of Health (DH) and the work involves a range of key national partners.
One outcome for the Alliance has been to formally adopt the Rotherham Charter principles as the Four Cornerstones of Co-production nationally. Genuine Partnerships was asked to work in partnership with Contact (formerly Contact a family) to lead pilot work in three Local Areas to highlight good practice and strengthen co-production. This VOICES work was positively evaluated by NDTi.
Demonstrating commitment to authentic co-production at home, the Genuine Partnerships team also facilitated a VOICES Day in Rotherham.
The key intention of the VOICES process is to stimulate a process of transformation, by building on good practice, thereby improving the experiences of, and outcomes for, children, young people and their families. Inviting young people, parent carers as well as key practitioners from Education, Health and Care services to come together, makes it possible for a dialogue to start through which greater co-production can then emerge.
There is strong national interest in this exciting work and the team is looking forward to facilitating more VOICES processes in other Local Areas in the coming months. If you are interested in VOICES for your Local Area please click on VOICES: Making co-production a reality.