This post was informed by the discussion at the #CoproMondays members’ event held online on 15th November 2021.
Our #CoproMonday sessions are fluid discussions with members, prompted by a series of questions or thoughts, where participants contribute their experience and knowledge, and learn from one another. Recordings are available if you’re a member or champion and you would like to catch up on the session content (email [email protected]).
4 key questions emerged, which Emma has summarised in a series of posts. Our thanks to all those who participated.
1. Do we treat service users differently?
Before thinking about how we recognise people, we should understand how we treat them, how we categorise them, and how perhaps we treat them differently to others, and why? Let’s take a moment to reflect, and challenge the assumptions we make about the roles people play and what we owe them. It’s not about incentives, which can be seen as transactional, or rewards, which can be seen as patronising; but about recognising people in a way that honours them, that acknowledges their life experiences, and recognises the effort it takes to recount these to improve processes, procedures and systems.
Co-production is about moving away from doing things to people, and instead enabling people to take control of their lives and the decisions that affect them. Anything less risks replicating and reinforcing existing inequalities.
Next week: 2. Is it all about money?