On Monday 16 January, partners and parents from across Shropshire met to discuss how to improve the co-production of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services.

The room was packed with over fifty people from health, care and education – but also parents and carers of children and young people with SEND. Everyone came together for a workshop called ‘Embedding Co-production’ hosted by the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTI). NHS partners who attended on the day included NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust and Shropshire Community Health Trust.

Jen Griffin, SEND Designated Clinical Officer for NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin said: “It was wonderful to have so many colleagues and partners together with parent carers for a dedicated session. Conversations reflected on the importance of listening to children and young people who access services, as well as including their parents and carers. We also discussed the importance of the feedback loop to demonstrate that having your say makes a real difference. We all committed to hearing more from children and young people with SEND, and to co-produce services with them more often.

Below, Yvonne Oliver, CYP Commissioning Lead for Shropshire Council shares an example of a previous experience with co-production.