How to get involved – co-production 
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We work closely with people who use our services, carers and families to improve quality, shape services, and make sure we meet the needs of the people we support.

We’re proud of our commitment to co-production. There are many ways you can get involved, whether that’s at a local service level or by helping shape our Trust-wide plans.

What do we mean by co-production?

Co-production means working in equal partnership with people who use health and care services, their carers and communities. It involves engaging people from the very beginning of any project, whether that’s designing, developing, or evaluating a service.

We recognise that people with lived experience of using our services are often best placed to tell us what works, what doesn’t, and what would make a positive difference.

By working together, we’re creating services that are more responsive, inclusive, and fit for purpose. It’s part of our commitment to support everyone’s mental health and wellbeing so they can live the best life possible.

Understanding the language we use

Here are some of the terms we use when we talk about co-production, and what they mean.

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.  

Opportunities to get involved in co-production

Help recruit our General Manager for Centralised Community Services

We're looking for someone with lived experience of our services, or experience as a carer or family member, to join an upcoming recruitment interview panel.

We're recruiting a new General Manager for Centralised Community Services, a role that will help ensure we continue to deliver high-quality care to communities across Surrey and North East Hampshire.

As part of our commitment to co-production, we want people who use our services, carers and families to have a voice in our recruitment decisions. Your experience and perspective can help us select someone who understands what matters to the people we support.

Who can take part?

We're looking for someone who, within the last two years, has either:

  • Used our services

  • Been a carer or family member of someone using our services

You don't need previous experience of being on an interview panel, but you should feel comfortable sharing your views and ideas in a group setting.

What will it involve?

You'll join an interview panel to help select our new General Manager. Before the interviews, we'll arrange a discussion to explain the role, what we're looking for in candidates and agree the interview questions together.

The interviews will take place on:

Date: Thursday 10 December 2026

Time: Full day

Location: Trust Headquarters, 18 Mole Business Park, Randalls Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 7AD

This is a paid involvement opportunity, and your time and travel expenses will be reimbursed. Refreshments will also be provided.

Any questions?

If you'd like more information or need support completing the form, please email: Richard Ilsley Richard.Ilsley@sabp.nhs.uk or telephone: 07385 409 877 (9am–5pm)

How to get involved

If you'd like to take part, please complete our online expression of interest form by midnight on Sunday 29 November 2026.

Regsiter your interest

Psychiatric Liaison Service: Carers' Information Leaflet Review

The Psychiatric Liaison Service is a specialist mental health team based at Epsom General Hospital. We assess and support people attending the Emergency Department or hospital wards who may be experiencing mental health difficulties, emotional distress, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, psychosis, dementia, or mental health problems alongside physical illness. 

We are currently reviewing how we communicate and share information with carers and would like to invite you to support this important project. 

We have developed a draft information leaflet for carers to help improve understanding of the Psychiatric Liaison Service. We are looking for carers who have previously supported a loved one who was seen by the Psychiatric Liaison Service to review the leaflet and share their feedback. 

What will it involve? 

You will be sent a draft copy of the leaflet and invited to review it. We will then arrange a telephone call or Microsoft Teams meeting to discuss your thoughts and suggestions, including: 

  • What you found helpful 
  • Anything that was unclear or difficult to understand 
  • Whether the language was appropriate 
  • Any information you would like added, changed or removed

  • Any suggestions for improving the leaflet 

Your feedback will help us ensure that the leaflet is clear, informative and useful for carers supporting someone who is receiving care from the Psychiatric Liaison Service. 

Get involved

If you’d like to find out more about this work and how you can get involved, or need support completing the online form please contact: 

Dr Ruth Charig, Principal Clinical Psychologist, Epsom General Hospital 

Email: pl-carers.project@sabp.nhs.uk 

Telephone: 01372 216600

Get involved and sign up today!

What you can expect 

We offer a range of ways to get involved—some are one-off workshops or discussion groups, others are longer-term projects.

We want our co-production activities to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. To help achieve this, we’ll promote opportunities through a range of channels and ask some standard questions to make sure we’re reaching underrepresented groups.

We’ll also ask about any support or adjustments you need, such as:

  • Easy-read versions of documents

  • Interpreters

  • 1:1 preparation sessions

We’ll always explain clearly what each opportunity involves and how you can contribute.

If an activity takes place in person, we can reimburse your travel expenses in cash on the day.

Some activities may be paid roles. Where this applies, we’ll let you know in advance and offer payment either by voucher or bank transfer. Payments are processed on the last Friday of each month.

If you find that sharing your lived experience brings up difficult emotions, we will offer support.

We’ll also ask for feedback about your experience of taking part, so we can keep improving how we work together.

IMPORTANT: If your co-production role offers payment

Receiving payment may affect your:

  • Benefit entitlements

  • Income tax and National Insurance

  • Pension, tax credits, or pension credit

Before accepting payment, we strongly recommend seeking advice from a benefits advisor or Jobcentre Plus. You can also find guidance on the Surrey Welfare Rights Unit website

FoCUS (Forum of Carers and people who Use Services) is our main service user and carer involvement group.

If you use our services or care for someone who does, we’d love for you to join. Members hear about new opportunities first and can take part in shaping how we deliver care.

Staff regularly present upcoming involvement projects at FoCUS Committee meetings.

Find out more about FoCUS. 

If you have any questions regarding involvement activities please email the team at: yourviewsmatter@sabp.nhs.uk