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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2018/jun/26/care-users-ignored-britains-got-talent
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| For too long, care users have been ignored. But now we have a voice | For too long, care users have been ignored. But now we have a voice |
| (17 days later) | |
| This is what used to happen to people like me who use care and support services: important folk made big decisions behind closed doors. Then, if we were lucky, they would invite us to “consult” to see if their plans were any good. They’d send out a long, complicated report and give us a few weeks to respond. Then they might get us in a draughty church hall around some tables and consult away. The problem was that it all too often became a tick-box exercise and the views of people who use services were sidelined. | This is what used to happen to people like me who use care and support services: important folk made big decisions behind closed doors. Then, if we were lucky, they would invite us to “consult” to see if their plans were any good. They’d send out a long, complicated report and give us a few weeks to respond. Then they might get us in a draughty church hall around some tables and consult away. The problem was that it all too often became a tick-box exercise and the views of people who use services were sidelined. |
| As a disabled person this was really frustrating. Those important people pretended we had a voice, when really we had none. And, as someone who can’t speak, I should know about that. | As a disabled person this was really frustrating. Those important people pretended we had a voice, when really we had none. And, as someone who can’t speak, I should know about that. |
| That’s why I’m really interested in what is now called “co-production”. These days, those important people no longer take everything we say and file it away in a folder marked “never to be seen again”. Incidentally, it’s the same folder where many of my bad jokes end up. | That’s why I’m really interested in what is now called “co-production”. These days, those important people no longer take everything we say and file it away in a folder marked “never to be seen again”. Incidentally, it’s the same folder where many of my bad jokes end up. |
| What happens more frequently these days is that people are at the heart of decision-making. And this gives me hope for disabled people in the future. | What happens more frequently these days is that people are at the heart of decision-making. And this gives me hope for disabled people in the future. |
| Services need to be co-designed, co-delivered and co-evaluated by professionals on the one hand and service users and carers on the other. | Services need to be co-designed, co-delivered and co-evaluated by professionals on the one hand and service users and carers on the other. |
| In Derbyshire, young disabled people are involved in co-producing My Way, run by a charity called MacIntyre. My Way supports young disabled people’s transition from children’s and young people’s services to adult services. The project has been able to build on a person-centred culture, where everyone feels they can be open in meetings and contributions and ideas are encouraged. | In Derbyshire, young disabled people are involved in co-producing My Way, run by a charity called MacIntyre. My Way supports young disabled people’s transition from children’s and young people’s services to adult services. The project has been able to build on a person-centred culture, where everyone feels they can be open in meetings and contributions and ideas are encouraged. |
| It has worked in schools and with parents’ groups to embed the concepts of personalisation and co-production. | It has worked in schools and with parents’ groups to embed the concepts of personalisation and co-production. |
| Co-production means that people are involved in decision-making, rather than just being told what is best for them | Co-production means that people are involved in decision-making, rather than just being told what is best for them |
| The young people are the experts, so they’re supported to give their views on what services should do and, importantly, how they will live once they have transitioned to adult services. This means the young people are involved in decision-making, rather than just being told what is best for them. And, in being central to shaping services for themselves and others, it means that they are playing a much more active part in their community, something I felt I missed out on as a child all those years ago. | The young people are the experts, so they’re supported to give their views on what services should do and, importantly, how they will live once they have transitioned to adult services. This means the young people are involved in decision-making, rather than just being told what is best for them. And, in being central to shaping services for themselves and others, it means that they are playing a much more active part in their community, something I felt I missed out on as a child all those years ago. |
| Put simply, co-production can improve people’s lives. A report last year looked at the emotional wellbeing and mental health support for young people who cannot be looked after by their birth families. A diverse expert working group, which embraced co-production by including many young care-experienced people, put together recommendations and fed their experiences directly into messages to central government. The report was launched in the House of Lords by a young woman who had spent her childhood in care. Important stuff. | Put simply, co-production can improve people’s lives. A report last year looked at the emotional wellbeing and mental health support for young people who cannot be looked after by their birth families. A diverse expert working group, which embraced co-production by including many young care-experienced people, put together recommendations and fed their experiences directly into messages to central government. The report was launched in the House of Lords by a young woman who had spent her childhood in care. Important stuff. |
| So I’m excited about the third Co-production Week next month and I’m also looking forward to performing at the Co-production Festival on 3 July, along with Emily Maguire, a singer-songwriter, poet and mental health advocate. I’ll be giving my own unique take on living as a disabled person, and you can expect it to be funny, shocking, and a bit twisted. You wouldn’t expect anything else from me, after all! | So I’m excited about the third Co-production Week next month and I’m also looking forward to performing at the Co-production Festival on 3 July, along with Emily Maguire, a singer-songwriter, poet and mental health advocate. I’ll be giving my own unique take on living as a disabled person, and you can expect it to be funny, shocking, and a bit twisted. You wouldn’t expect anything else from me, after all! |
| The week is organised by the Social Care Institute for Excellence and includes two free seminars and events around the country. For some great examples of co-production in action, take a look at the Co-production Week blog and more examples and information about co-production. | The week is organised by the Social Care Institute for Excellence and includes two free seminars and events around the country. For some great examples of co-production in action, take a look at the Co-production Week blog and more examples and information about co-production. |
| Co-production means “nothing about us without us”. It’s time to give the voiceless a voice. Only then can disabled people truly feel a part of society. Let’s face it, that’s long overdue. | Co-production means “nothing about us without us”. It’s time to give the voiceless a voice. Only then can disabled people truly feel a part of society. Let’s face it, that’s long overdue. |
| Lost Voice Guy – real name Lee Ridley – is a comedian and winner of Britain’s Got Talent | Lost Voice Guy – real name Lee Ridley – is a comedian and winner of Britain’s Got Talent |
| Social Care Network | |
| Leadership, learning and development in social care | |
| social care network: adult social care | social care network: adult social care |
| Children | Children |
| Social care | Social care |
| Disability | Disability |
| Britain's Got Talent | |
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