Making Co-production Happen
These parallel sessions highlight projects and practices that promote different elements of co-production.
Session Types:
Workshop Session: This will take the form of an interactive meeting or educational session designed to create a specialised result, for example a guidance or learning that participants can use afterwards. It will include some form of training and/or group work.
Thematic Panel Discussion: During these sessions 3-4 organisations present a project on a similar topic related to the conference theme during a moderated panel discussion. Delegates are invited to ask questions at the end of the session.
Making Co-production Happen: 26 JUNE 14:15 - 15:30
The political responsibility for our social policies is almost always divided between local, regional and national authorities and requires cooperation across the different entities. In this interactive workshop, EY will facilitate a group discussion to discuss the key challenges and success factors experienced when creating policies and cooperative projects to support the elderly and disabled as well as social and employment policies. The workshop will focus specifically on major transformation projects that need a strengthened exchange of information, data and processes between authorities.
Labour shortages and falling labour market participation require new strategies to be deployed, such as co-production and comprehensive service models, to activate the long term unemployed and populations with barriers to employment. This session will examine how jurisdictions across countries have pivoted their strategies, what is working, and what progress has been made.
Neighbourhood and community approaches refer to a range of strategies aimed at supporting individuals and families within their local communities. These initiatives leverage local resources and social networks to address challenges such as socio-economic disparities and social isolation. However, their implementation can vary significantly across and between countries due to cultural norms, historical contexts, and institutional structures.
Co-creating family and children’s support requires collaborative efforts among various agencies together with families themselves to address the needs of families in vulnerable situations. This approach emphasises inclusivity, equity, and active participation, aiming to build strong support networks and holistic solutions tailored to the diverse contexts of these families. By fostering partnerships and co-creating initiatives with families themselves, the wellbeing and healthy development of children will be improved.
The social services workforce is a fundamental part of social protection systems across the EU and plays a key role in improving people’s lives. The demand for social services, support, and protection is rapidly increasing across Europe and beyond. This increase in demand places significant pressure on public social services and the workforce they employ, whilst also facing budget constraints, recruitment, and retention issues.
Making Coproduction Happen: 27 JUNE 14:00-15:00
The National Joint Investigative Interview Project was set up to improve the quality of the experience of child victims and witnesses required to give evidence, minimise the risk of re-traumatisation and improve the quality of evidence gathered during forensic interviews of social workers and police officers with children. Through a training programme, interviewers are equipped with enhanced skills and knowledge, particularly in trauma-informed approaches, enabling them to create safe, collaborative environments for children to share their experiences effectively during interviews.
Having realised that families with children who have functional disabilities did not have the right type of support, the Welfare Department of Riga City Council conducted a research study and collaborated with service providers and families to develop and implement a new social programme.
The participation of people using services in tailoring those services is crucial for creating programmes and initiatives that truly meet their needs. Person-centred approaches bring more perspective and insight, build trust between services providers and beneficiaries, empower people using services, and increase the effectiveness and impact of social services.
Promoting citizens’ engagement in social services is essential as it fosters inclusivity, empowers communities, and ensures that services are responsive to diverse needs and preferences. By actively involving citizens in decision-making processes, social services can better address systemic inequalities and promote equality.
Shared decision making is a key element of co-production in community-based care and support. People with lived experience of care are experts in what helps them have a good quality of life and what support can help them overcome situations of social exclusion. Involving people in decisions over their own care and support, gives them more control over their lives to become more self-sufficient.
Research shows that social isolation and loneliness have a serious impact on older people’s longevity, their physical and mental health and their quality of life. In addition, low quality long-term care can further deteriorate older people’s wellbeing and their quality of life. In this session, we will hear about two experiences addressing these challenges.