Co-production brings together researchers, clinicians, practitioners, commissioners and members of the public to work together on research. The aim is to support everyone to work as equal partners with shared responsibility and power.
By doing this, we can help make sure we are asking the right questions, do research that can be implemented, and that also meets the needs of our local population. As an ARC, the ‘end of the project’ is when the research findings are implemented, and we work closely with the other ARC themes.
What we do
- Provide information, advice and support to individual researchers/projects and take part in information sessions and themed events across the region. As a cross-cutting theme, we aim to support the translation of evidence into practice.
- Create a space for debate and knowledge-sharing, bringing together academics, practitioners and the public to discuss the latest research, insights, and developments in co-production. For example, we host workshops and an annual discussion panel.
- Bring together co-production resources and have also produced some of our own, in the project tabs below.
- Conduct our own research and are also involved in collaborative research with others, examples include:
- Assessing the contribution and impact of co-production of research within ARC KSS.
- DIGDEM - co-designing a digital tool for people diagnosed with mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment.
- Communities of Practice (CoP) scoping review and evaluation.
We see co-production as a way of working not a ‘method’ based on a set of shared values. If you want to find out more about this you could start with listening to this panel discussion. It requires a certain way of thinking and there is no one way to do it properly. More information about definitions can be found here.
Meet the Team
Theme Lead
Research Fellow
PhD Student (Canterbury Christ Church University)
Projects
Systematic reviews for Researchers, Services and Commissioners
The co-production team has produced a guide critiquing a selection of systematic reviews that use co-production in a meaningful way.
The guide includes a section for papers attempting to capture or measure the outcomes of co-produced research or service design. Selected reviews focus on three areas where there are recognised challenges to co-production of research and services: social care for people with cognitive impairment living in the community; end of life care; and children and young people.
This could be a good starting point for researchers wanting to further their understanding of co-production and identify gaps in the literature, both important for strengthening co-produced research outputs within the NIHR ARC KSS.
Download a copy of the Systematic Reviews for Researchers, Services and Commissioners.
Co-production case studies: A retrospective review of case studies carried out within the ARC KSS
A guide, part of a series aimed at researchers, service providers and commissioners who are keen to learn about co-production and how to use it in their research has been produced by the NIHR ARC KSS Co-production team, and includes examples of real NIHR ARC KSS case studies.
The guide builds on an earlier version showcasing clear and succinct case studies utilising aspects of co-production and co-design. It is aimed at anyone interested in a participatory approach, whether that be, research, service design or service evaluation, provides a learning platform that will support an individual's own co-production journey, with the hope of inspiring innovative approaches and ways to adapt to their own settings.
Co-Production: Together we are better - a leaflet for the public
ARC KSS has produced a leaflet for services and research teams to use as a way of introducing the key ideas behind co-production to members of the public who may be new to working in this way.
The leaflet is aimed primarily at members of the public looking to get involved in co-production with services and research in the NIHR ARC KSS, but it may also be a useful tool for researchers or health and social care professionals, as a quick reference or introduction.
A Guide to Co-production for Researchers, Services and Commissioners
We asked a wide variety of stakeholders what they thought would be helpful in term of promoting co-production within Kent, Surrey and Sussex. The most frequent suggestion was a short guide on what co-production really means and how to differentiate it from patient and public involvement (and other similar terms).
We read through vast amounts of literature, including academic papers, reports and websites to select what we think will be most useful for researchers, services and commissioners. As a result, we produced A Guide to Co-Production for Researchers, Services and Commissoners which is intended as an introduction to co-production and its conceptualisation in research and service delivery.
It serves to provide a springboard for researchers, service providers and commissioners enthusiastic to learn about and embed co-production in their work. Within the guide we set out how the co-production theme can support you and signpost useful resources and further reading. By working in partnership with those commissioning, providing or using services, we can ensure that we are asking the right questions and delivering services that meet the needs of the local population. Additionally, we aim to promote outputs that can be implemented locally, are sustainable and become embedded into practice.
We hope this guide helps you to understand the process, why it is important and then to try it out.
Click here to view the guide.
Assessing Processes and Outcomes of Co-Produced Research
The ARC KSS Co-production team have produced a new guide, Assessing Processes and Outcomes of Co-Produced Research, looking at the evidence for co-production processes and how co-production enhances research and other outcomes. The guide presents a selection of reviews all assessing process and outcomes of co-produced health and social care research, from the last five years. There are clear messages about the facilitators and barriers to involvement, co-design and co-production which are helpful for any researchers involved in co-production.
This guide updates our previous one, Systematic reviews for Researchers, Services and Commissioners which focused on measuring co-production and capturing outcomes with examples of systematic reviews across three areas (older adults, end-of-life care, children, and young people) and included several reviews on the outcomes of co-production.
Click here to view the guide.
Communities of Practice (CoP) scoping review and evaluation
Communities of practice (CoP) are groups of people who share an interest about a topic and want to develop their knowledge by working together. They are seen as a way for to co-produce research and implement new ideas into practice. There are many types of CoPs but little evaluation of what works, for whom, how or why. ARC KSS runs several of these groups, involving different combinations of professionals/clinicians, researchers and the public.
Evaluating co-production of research with older people within The PALLUP Study
Pallative & End of Life Care (EOLC) - A 5 year study around the specific needs of older people living with frailty, focussing on supporting them to live at home (or place of their choosing), and of course engaging wider than just clinical need.
Supporting the physical health care of people with severe mental illness: family caregivers’ experiences and their perceived barriers to involvement
This project focuses on developing an intervention for supporting family caregivers to enhance their ability to support the physical health care needs of relatives receiving treatment for their mental illness from community services.
Co-producing an intervention toolkit with and for women of Black African and Black Caribbean descent to promote early presentation with breast cancer symptoms
The aim of this project was to develop an intervention toolkit to raise awareness of breast cancer among women of Black Caribbean and Black African descent. The intervention aims to educate Black women about: symptoms of breast cancer; how to check breasts regularly; how to seek help if noticing changes.
Building inclusive public partnerships: using photovoice as a tool for engagement
The aim of the project was to engage older adults living in Thanet in discussions about health and wellbeing priorities using photovoice.
Dealing with uncertainties: research prioritisation with older adults through day centres
The aim of this project was to co-produce research priorities about living with changing needs in later life. Involving people in online groups was not a suitable option and so we conducted visits to two-day centres with different local populations. The age range was between 75 to 97 years old.
Conversations on living and dying: Facilitating advance care planning with older people living with advanced frailty
Advance care planning (ACP) enables people nearing the end of life to talk about what matters most, including their preferred care. It is particularly important for older people with frailty as they are vulnerable to sudden health changes, but this group are rarely engaged with ACP conversations.
Looking at co-production in applied health research, with a focus on menopause.
This study will use a co-production approach to explore the barriers and enablers for optimal health and wellbeing in the menopausal period for under-resourced groups of women, in areas where health inequalities are prevalent, in the South East of England.
Impact of mild TBI and severe TBI and resource Co-design with survivors, clinicians and professional stakeholders
Hospital admissions for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in Kent and Medway have increased from 2016 to 2019. There is also a gap in the national trauma care pathway for TBI survivors regarding accessible resources in the community and limitations in NHS capacity to meet the ongoing rehabilitation needs of survivors. This research takes a qualitative approach to gain insight into the long-term health issues and recovery journeys experienced by survivors.
