Co-production for improvement
Working together, from start to finish
Co-production is about doing things with people, not to or for them. It means involving people with lived experience - patients, carers, service users, and frontline staff - right from the beginning of a project, and throughout every stage of the work. It’s a shift in mindset, from consultation to collaboration.
What is Co-production, and why does it matter?
At the Academy of Research and Improvement, co-production is at the heart of how we work. Whether it's shaping a research study, designing a new service, or evaluating what’s working, we believe the best outcomes come when people bring their different kinds of knowledge together; clinical, professional, personal, and lived.
Why Co-production matters:
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It leads to better, more relevant research and improvement work.
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It builds trust and stronger relationships between communities and services.
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It values everyone’s expertise equally.
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It helps create solutions that are more likely to be used and sustained.
What Co-production looks like in practice can take many forms:
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Involving people in identifying priorities and ideas
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Co-designing methods, materials, or tools
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Co-delivering training, workshops or events
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Jointly analysing findings and making sense of what they mean
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Sharing learning and impact together
We support teams across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to embed co-production in their work, with practical advice, facilitation, and access to people and communities who want to be involved.
I wanted to let you know how much the Quality Improvement and Co-production training and resources have helped me with my confidence and empowered me in my role.
Co-Production Programme Attendee
I have learnt so much. I am now always thinking about how we involve service users, particularly when we are developing or evaluating services. It’s surprised me and challenged my thinking – and I am sure we are delivering better services because of it.
Co-Production Programme Attendee
I am continuously enlightened by the people and patients who have been involved in the project and on hearing their experiences.
Co-Production Programme Attendee
Real Feedback, Real Impact
Hear directly from colleagues who have completed the course. Their experiences, insights, and the impact it’s had on their work.
Blog, News
Co-production Programme; what we’ve learnt so far...
Explore insights from our Co-production Programme, highlighting the importance of inclusive partnership between patients, carers, and healthcare staff to improve services. Learn about successes, challenges, and key lessons from teams across Solent NHS Trust.
Blog
Side-by-Side approach to continuous improvement celebrated in national awards
Solent NHS Trust’s Side-by-Side network and Academy teams have won a national Clinical Audit Heroes award for championing meaningful patient involvement in improvement.
Blog
The power of co-production in Quality Improvement
Discover how co-production in Quality Improvement empowers families and clinicians to create meaningful changes, improving outcomes in Children and Family Therapy services.
Blog, News
Co-production Programme; what we’ve learnt so far...
Explore insights from our Co-production Programme, highlighting the importance of inclusive partnership between patients, carers, and healthcare staff to improve services. Learn about successes, challenges, and key lessons from teams across Solent NHS Trust.
