What is Co-production?
By Fabian Halliburton – HFEH Mind Co-production Participant
What is co-production?
Co-production involves different groups of people working together. In health care, it’s the health care service providers and their service users working together. Working in a joint effort to improve health care services.
Co-production in health care helps to keep services up to date. Because the people that receive care from health care services are the best people to help develop it.
Hammersmith, Fulham, Ealing and Hounslow Mind provided me with the opportunity to create and to deliver empathy training. As part of The Experts By Experience project.
A particular type of empathy training was developed for mental health professionals. Because of what was included, some of the Mind charity staff were encouraged to be more mindful. And express more empathy towards their service users in their practice.
Having previous experience of receiving health care myself gives me unique personal insights. And I’ve used my particular experience to work with health care professionals to try to improve services. Which is a prime example of co-production.
What does co-production mean for people in general?
Co-production symbolises people working together. In this context being health care. And in this case to improve health care services for all. Using empathy. But some people might find this particular model of co-production challenging. Which might come from having to develop more emotional understanding.
Using co-production to develop empathy can create challenges which can be personally rewarding. This kind of personal development benefits local communities. Especially when people develop together in a joint effort. Which is what makes co-production inclusive.
The RESPECT model
From my point of view, I think that co-production can be compared to the RESPECT model.
The RESPECT model is usually applied in professional healthcare settings. And ensures that we can create an inclusive environment.
There are different types of the RESPECT model. And some of them are very similar. The following version of the RESPECT model is referenced from The Guide to Providing Effective Communication and Language Assistance Services.
The RESPECT model is usually applied as an approach or ‘way’ to improve communication. Between health care service providers and their service users. By encouraging equality.
For me personally, I think that this can be compared to expressing emotional understanding. Also known as empathy.
Applying this particular way of doing things could probably benefit any service. Especially health care services.
Each letter of the word ‘respect’ in the title RESPECT model stands for something:
- R – rapport – Mutual understanding
- E – empathy – Emotional understanding
- S – support – To give assistance
- P – partnership – Working together
- E – explanations – A process of explaining
- C – cultural Competence – Being aware of one’s own and/or other’s cultural differences
- T – trust – Belief
Spelling out the word R.E.S.P.E.C.T. With each letter of the word standing for something positive. Potentially to be included in someone’s care. This is a useful acronym to benefit many health care services. If used correctly. Service providers can be reminded to provide a more empathetic approach.
The RESPECT model concept might come across as quite simple. But for me personally, I think that these ideas share core similarities to the Equally Unique Love concept.
The Equally Unique Love concept includes expressing care. Through empathy. And through treating people equally to how you would like to be treated yourself. Bearing in mind people’s uniqueness. And appreciating their individuality. This can also help to encourage a particular narrative. One of positivity.
A mutual understanding is promoted. With empathy, there can be an emotional understanding. Help can be provided through support. With the emphasis on equality. And fair treatment.
The RESPECT model is similar to co-production. It encourages working together in a partnership. Making things easier to understand through explaining.
It’s important to have an appreciation of other cultures. Which helps to avoid stereotyping. And also develops trust.
Ultimately, there are all types of people in this world. But the role of the RESPECT model is to ensure that people are treated fairly.
Why is co-production important?
Co-production is very important. Because as the years pass, services need to be updated. In order to progress. Moving forward. Health care service providers and their health care service users can work together. Helping services to stay current.
The world continues to change. And people are evolving. So general services need to keep up with the times. People can be encouraged to accept these changes. And also use self-acceptance. Accepting the current situation. Addressing what’s needed.
What is good co-production?
Good co-production is when different groups working together understand each other. For example when health care professionals and their health care clients have the same agenda. And both groups engage with each other in a professional manner. In this case in order to improve health care services.
Good co-production is when there is a joint understanding. And both groups are willing to engage fully with each other. In the context of mental health, there is a stigma attached. That apparently the mental health care system is often not productive.
A negative view of mental health care could potentially be transformed by promoting the value of co-production. Which could encourage people to get involved. This idea could also develop hope. That the relationships between health care service providers and their clients will improve.
Posted on: 2nd July 2025
