Developing a co-production programme was an important part of FLICs legacy work. The aim was to develop, test and embed co-production approaches by bringing together local services, commissioners, and people with lived experience to positively influence the design and delivery of support provided to people experiencing multiple disadvantage.

Co-Production Activity
The diagram below presents the structure and primary activity of the co-production work undertaken by FLIC. The core of the co-production activity is a bi-weekly lived experience advisory group within FLIC. Through this group, members also become involved in co-production activities with external professionals, inputting into commissioning processes and a Trauma Informed Network, as well as other activities. Alongside this, FLIC runs action learning training in co-production for professionals.

FLIC commissioned PraxisCollab to undertake an evaluation of our co-production work. We are hopeful, and confident, that our learning can be used not only in London, but nationally, to help inform the set-up of co-production groups.

Some of the recommendations for other organisations wanting to coordinate, design or implement co-production, include:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of the existing evidence base, principles, and theoretical underpinnings of co-production to inform a clear strategy and training for co-producers, practitioners, and commissioners. 
• Clarify the aims, objectives, expectations, and desired outcomes in each type of co-production activity. 
• Start with a small number of activities or approaches using a test and learn approach to enable effective assessment of what works for who and in what circumstances. 
• Establish clarity about the extent of the influence that people with lived experience can realistically have when they participate in each co production activity. 

Recommendations for commissioners:

• Incorporate sufficient resource within service design to enable meaningful co production activities to take place. 
• Develop collaboration opportunities where commissioners, service managers and people with lived experience can come together to share experiences and learn from one another to align service delivery with the priorities and support requirements for people experiencing multiple disadvantage. 
• Undertake training about multiple disadvantage, the effects and impacts including how experiences influence the way that people engage with support services.

Find all recommendations in the full report here.