Co-production

Co-production is a way of working where service users, carers, professionals, and the community work together as equals to design, develop, and improve adult social care services.

Instead of decisions being made for people, co-production ensures they are made with people. This means those with lived experience can shape services based on real needs, making them more effective and meaningful.

Co-production is built on key principles:

equality – everyone involved has an equal say
diversity – different experiences and perspectives matter
accessibility – everyone should be able to take part
shared power – decisions are made together, not by one group alone
valuing lived experience – the knowledge of people who use services is just as important as professional expertise

By working together, we can create better, fairer services that truly meet the needs of our communities.

Get involved

There are many ways to take part in co-production. Whether you are a service user, carer, family member, or professional, your voice matters.

Here’s how you can get involved:

join a working group –help design services and improve how things work
attend workshops – share your ideas in interactive sessions
take part in consultations – give feedback through surveys, meetings, or focus groups
become a co-production champion – represent your community and help spread the word
join our mailing list – stay updated on co-production activities and upcoming events

Interested? Contact us at workingtogether@lewisham.gov.uk to find out more

Feedback and consultation

Your feedback helps shape real change in adult social care.

We offer different ways to share your views:

surveys – answer short questions to tell us what works well and what could be better
community meetings – join open discussions on how services should be improved
one-to-one conversations – speak to a co-production lead about your experience
online consultations – share your thoughts from home through digital meetings or forms

We believe in listening, learning, and acting on feedback. Your opinions help improve services so they work for everyone.

Co-design workshops

Co-Design Workshops bring together service users, carers, professionals, and community partners to shape the future of adult social care. These workshops are interactive and focused on real issues that need improvement.

What happens at a workshop?

a chance to share your experiences and ideas
working together to develop new solutions
exploring what is working and what is not
making sure services reflect the needs of those who use them

Why should I attend?

your input will help shape decisions
it’s a safe space to share opinions
you can meet others who are passionate about change
you’ll learn new skills in problem-solving and service design

Upcoming workshops

Working Together Group Session, Tuesday 18 March 2025, Ladywell Centre
Future of Home Support Services, date and venue to be confirmed
Improving Access to Social Care, date and venue to be confirmed
Personal Budgets & Direct Payments, date and venue to be confirmed

To register, visit Working Together Eventbrite.

Partnerships and collaborations

Strong partnerships help us deliver better services. We work with:

community organisations – local groups that support service users and carers
health and social care providers – NHS and care teams working to improve support
local authorities – Teams responsible for funding and delivering services
charities and advocacy groups – Supporting people to access their rights

Examples of successful partnerships:

co-designing a new support plan process with service users
working with local charities to improve respite care options
partnering with health services to ensure better home care

Would your organisation like to collaborate? Get in touch at workingtogether@lewisham.gov.uk

Resources and support

Whether you’re new to co-production or already involved, we offer tools and support to help you engage effectively.

Resources

co-production toolkit – a guide on how to get involved
easy-read guides – explaining how co-production works

Support services

one-to-one guidance on joining activities
accessibility support (BSL, large print, language translation)
regular updates on upcoming co-production opportunities

Published on: 07/03/2025