Agenda item

The Strategy & Partnership Manager introduced a report that provided a progress update on the emerging model of co-production in the design and delivery of adult social care services.  Karen Evans, the Co-Chair of the Learning Disability Partnership Board also addressed the Panel to explain her role and involvement as a service user.

The Council has previously involved users in a range of areas of adult social care activity through partnership boards such as carers, learning disabilities and autism.  Whilst these had some good work, it had been decided to review the arrangements as they lacked clear governance and varied in their effectiveness.  Working with service users, a new model of engagement had therefore been developed that would help influence how limited resources were targeted and how services were delivered.  The model of Co-production Group replacing the old partnership boards would be a platform to share ideas, identify ways to improve independence and involve Slough’s wider community in designing and developing new services and ways of working.  The Council would be seeking to identify people able to contribute to the new group.

Ms Evans told the Panel about her experience of being involved in the engagement work and her expectations for the new Co-production Group.  She highlighted how important it was that people felt that they were being listened to and that services were responsive.  In addition to the service benefits of the involvement of users, Ms Evans stated that she had made new friends and improved her confidence, which made her more able to speak up on behalf of others and make the engagement more effective.  The Panel commended Ms Evans for the role she was playing and agreed that it was crucial to have effective mechanisms to listen to the views of her and other service users.

The Panel discussed a number of issues included how the Council would ensure the new group would be more effective than the partnership boards it was replacing and how more people could be encouraged to be involved.  At the conclusion of the discussion, the Panel noted the report and Members endorsed the approach being taken.

Resolved –

(a)  That the report be noted.

(b)  That the approach being taken to strengthen residents and service user involvement in shaping services through creating more meaningful, robust and equal partnerships be endorsed.

(Colin Pill left the meeting)