How to get involved – co-production 
We work closely with people who use our services, carers and their families to develop our services, improve quality and better meet the needs of the people we serve.
Our commitment to co-production is something we pride ourselves on and there are many ways to get involved at a local service level through to helping develop Trust-wide strategic plans.
Our definition of co-production is:
“Co-production is a way of working that involves people who use health and care services, carers and communities in equal partnership; and which engages groups of people at the earliest stages of service design, development and evaluation.
Co-production acknowledges that people with ‘lived experience’ of a particular condition are often best placed to advise on what support and services will make a positive difference to their lives.”
Working together with people who use our services, carers and family members means that we are creating services that are truly fit for purpose and meet their needs. This will help us realise our vision to ensure that everyone’s mental health and well-being should support them to lead the best life they can.
There are some important terms within this definition that we want to describe to ensure that this definition is clear:
Someone of any age providing support which can be physical, emotional or mental, for a relative or friend, who could not cope without that support. The care that they provide is unpaid and we need to work in partnership with them when caring for their loved one. We need their input to help shape our services.
We provide services to people across different geographies across Surrey and North East Hampshire, who represent a wide range of ages, backgrounds and cultures. We want to ensure that all are given the opportunity to take part in co-production work and help shape our services.
A group of people agreeing on goals together and working as a team to achieve these goals.
Creating and launching a new or improved service. Identifying and making recommendations for improvements in the patient pathway and administrative processes to enhance the patient experience.
Measuring how successful the service is at achieving the goals.
Experience that people have had firsthand, that gives them knowledge and understanding that others don’t have.
Current opportunities
We want to hear from people who use our services, carers, and families. By working together, we can improve our services and achieve the best outcomes.
What is the One Team approach?
The One Team Approach puts the person at the centre of care. Services will be designed around their needs, close to where they live.
Why are we doing this?
We want to focus on people, not just the services they use. This means changing how we think and work, so we see and support the whole person.
How you can get involved
We are looking for 6-12 people from Surrey and North East Hampshire who have used our services in the last two years. Together, we will co-design better support by reviewing each step of the care journey—from referral to discharge.
Who can take part?
We’d like to hear from:
• People who use our services
• Carers and family members
We want a group that reflects our diverse community. If you’re not selected this time, there will be more chances to share your views in the future.
Sharing your views
You don’t need any workshop experience. We’ll support you and ensure everyone can share their views.
What is the time commitment?
The process will run for 8 weeks, with several in-person workshops in early 2025. We will confirm the exact dates soon.
Can I claim expenses?
Yes, we will refund your travel expenses.
How to express your interest
If you want to help, please complete the expression of interest form by Friday, 17 January 2025.
For more information or help filling out the form, contact:
Colette Lane
📞 07918 956298 (voicemail due to deafness)
We are seeking five people to take part, either with recent or current experience of using our services, or their family members or carers, to join us in exploring the changes to national guidance on care planning and what these changes mean for Surrey and Borders.
Participants will be invited to attend two workshops, and we kindly ask for a commitment to attend both sessions.
When are the workshops?
Tuesday 11th February 2025, 10am – 12pm
Tuesday 25th February 2025, 10am – 12pm
Background:
The Care Programme Approach (CPA) has been used in mental health services to coordinate care for people with significant mental health needs. However, NHS England found it can sometimes be unfair, rigid, and too focused on processes. To improve this, they are introducing a new Community Mental Health Framework. This framework aims to provide high-quality care that is personalised, inclusive, and focused on recovery for everyone with significant mental health needs
The new framework focuses on:
-
Meaningful intervention-based care: Shifting from general care coordination to meaningful, high-quality care that helps people recover and stay well, supported by simple and effective processes.
-
Key Worker: A named key worker from any of the services the person uses. This reduces reliance on care coordinators and maximises the use of staff skills across partner agencies, it also incorporates new roles like experts by experience.
-
High Quality Personalised Care Plans: Provide holistic, personalised care plans for people with significant mental health issues, co-produced with the person, their family/carer, and third sector partners like housing, social care and VCSE (voluntary, community and social enterprise).
-
Support for Carers: Improve carer involvement by enhancing communication, seeking their input in care plans, and committing to supporting carers in line with national standards.
-
Flexible and Accessible Services: Create responsive, tailored services that adapt to individuals’ needs, their families’ circumstances, and the complexity of their conditions, which may change over time.
Workshop Goals:
Attendees will participate in discussions and activities designed to understand:
-
What is important to you,
-
What we should retain from the current CPA model
-
What should be changed
Expression of interest
If you are interested in supporting this work, please complete the expression of interest form – https://
Please note that as we are only looking for five representatives, not all applicants may be selected. However, we deeply appreciate your interest, and all expenses for attending these sessions will be reimbursed.
If you have any questions, please contact Helen Potter, Director of Quality Management and Chief Nursing Information Officer, by email Helen.
What you can expect
We aim to offer you a variety of opportunities to get involved in. Some activities may be one-off workshops or discussions. Others may provide the opportunity to be involved in regular activities over a period of time as projects.
We want to reach as many people as possible, who represent the diverse community we serve so we’ll advertise these opportunities through a number of different channels to help broaden the participation.
We’ll ask some standard questions about you to so that we can ensure we are reaching as many people as possible, from a broad background, particularly those groups who are underrepresented.
We’ll give you the opportunity to let us know of any reasonable adjustments you may have that will help you to be involved, such as easy-read versions of documents, interpreters or spending some time with you to prepare you for the activity.
We’ll clearly explain what we are trying to achieve and what we’d like you to help us with.
For activities that take place in person, we can reimburse your travel expenses in cash on the day.
Some of our activities may involve roles that can offer payment, which we will advise you of and can process your payments in money or vouchers.
We will provide you with support, should you find sharing your lived experience difficult.
We will invite you to provide us with feedback on your experience of co-production so that we can continue to learn and improve.
IMPORTANT: If your co-production role offers payment
Receiving payment of a fee for involvement is likely to have implications if you are currently employed, unemployed, receiving state benefits or retired. This is because the payment received will be treated as earnings. If you are receiving state benefits, then receiving any form of payment may affect your benefit claim. Advice about receiving payment and the impact on welfare benefits is available via the Surrey Welfare Rights Unit website – https://www.swru.org/people-with-lived[1]experience-and-carers/
It is vital that you get expert advice from a benefits advisor or from Jobcentre Plus regarding your personal circumstances. Receiving payments may also have implications if you are liable for income tax and National Insurance, receiving a pension or pension credits or tax credits.
FoCUS
If you use our services, or care for someone who uses our services please join FoCUS, our Forum of Carers and people who Use Services.
All our opportunities will be shared directly to members of FoCUS and staff will present opportunities to co-produce at FoCUS Committee meetings.
Contact us
If you have any questions regarding involvement activities please email the team at: yourviewsmatter@sabp.nhs.uk