Co-production for innovation | it starts with relationships, not roadmaps
The theme of Co-production Week 2025 is innovation, and at Channel 3 we believe real innovation happens when the right people come together, with shared purpose and momentum.
Innovation in social care isn’t sparked by strategy documents. It’s driven by people. People who draw on care and support, people who provide it and people who care enough to challenge the status quo. That kind of change comes from connection, not command and control.
Embracing new technologies to innovate services is key to building a more sustainable and preventative approach to care. But too often, these innovations don’t have the impact they should for people, both those who draw on care and those who provide it. A big reason why? Their voices are often left out of the design and implementation of these changes.
We know that to create care that actually works for people, we need to bring everyone into the conversation – early, meaningfully, and often. At Channel 3 we’re on our own journey with this. We don’t have all the answers but we’re committed to working together with the people who matter.
Over the past year, we’ve been working closely with Rich, who brings both lived experience and deep insight around co-production. Rich joined our Adult Social Care strategy day and helped us think properly about how we embed co-production into everything we do. Not just talking about it, but living it.
And this is where it gets real. What we see now as ‘just the way we do things’ was once new and radical. It was once someone’s bright idea. That’s innovation. It doesn’t always need to be big, it just needs to be brave.
We recently had the privilege of learning from Clenton, Isaac and Jacqui at our all-staff away day. Together we explored what co-production means, what it feels like, and how it challenges the way organisations tend to work. We heard powerful, personal stories. There were honest reflections, and there was laughter too. It was real, emotional, and it changed us.
Clenton asked,
“What if innovation looked like care? Like people coming together to listen, to respect each other, and to create from that space?”
Jacqui reminded us,
“You don’t need a big idea to get started. You just need space to let people bring their ideas and be heard.”
We also talked about the importance of trust, and how that isn’t built overnight. It’s built through showing up, being consistent and doing things with people, not to them. Relationships sit at the heart of all good co-production. Without that foundation, the work doesn’t stick.
So, what are we doing to make it real?
We’re supporting councils and health partners to explore what co-production means for them – not just as a checklist of tasks but as a way of working and thinking. We know it’ll look different depending on local relationships and how much trust is already there. And we know it’ll take time.
Here’s what we’re taking forward:
Co-production is a mindset, not a method. It’s about always looking for ways to involve people with lived experience early and meaningfully in the work that affects them.
There’s no one-size-fits-all model. Every council or organisation will need its own approach, shaped by the people and relationships they already have.
It’s not easy, and that’s okay. Doing this well means giving it time, creating space for honest conversations, and rebalancing power. It means moving from consultation to collaboration. But it really can start with a chat and a brew.
So let’s keep things simple and human.
Let’s not over-engineer it. Let’s focus on building trust, staying curious and being open to ideas – even the small ones. Because sometimes the smallest ideas often end up being the ones that change everything.
Key messages and asks:
Start where people are – build trust and relationships first
Make it real – if it doesn’t feel human, it’s not co-production
Create space – let people bring their ideas and shape the work early on
Think small – innovation isn’t about scale, it’s about impact
Check power – share it, shift it, and be honest about it
If you are looking for an innovation partner who are committed to co-production, let’s start the conversation.
Footnote
· Rich Amos – National Co-production Advisory Group member and lived experience advisor
· Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE – Chair of Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) and a leader in co-production and equality
· Isaac Samuels OBE – National Co-production Advisory Group member and lived experience advocate
· Jacqui Darlington BEM – Co-production champion and lived experience partner in health and social care