Almost three-quarters of social care workers and over half of service users are aware of co-production, according to a new survey.

Co-production is about working in equal partnership with people using services, carers, families and citizens and offers the chance to transform social care and health provision to a model that offers people real choice and control. 

The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) research comes during the eighth annual National Co-production Week.

Kathryn Smith, chief executive at SCIE, said: “Co-production is a fundamental part of modern day social care and support and this survey is a fantastic opportunity to see what’s going on in the sector; both with the workforce and with people who draw on services. It is very encouraging that so many people working in adult social care know about co-production and why it is important.

“The challenge now is to see its impact more on the frontline and I hope that the recommendations in the survey report can be acted on quickly, so that people who draw on care and support services are put at the heart of the decisions made about their lives.”

The survey revealed 72% of the workforce and 56% of people with lived experience have heard about co-production. The results also revealed that leaders and managers have different views and experiences of co-production, compared with those on the frontline.

Managers with the least exposure to frontline working appear to have a much better knowledge of co-production than those working in direct care delivery. A third of workers stated the organisational culture of their place of work can be a barrier to successful co-production.

The survey found 59% of people with lived experience report having had opportunities to be involved in co-producing their own care and support, while only 37% have been involved in co-producing services or policies.

Many respondents – both in the workforce and those who draw on services – spoke of a sense of distrust and disillusionment with co-production, however, saying it can become diluted and lose its meaning.

Key barriers experienced by social care staff, when implementing co-production, are time (reported by 47%), organisational culture (31%), cost (26%) and communication (25%). However, results suggested that when workers in the public sector have good opportunities for partnerships with people with lived experiences, then co-production is more likely to happen.

To read the report click here.