Public services face great challenges: increasing demand, rising expectations, entrenched social problems and reduced budgets. Reform is not enough to overcome these―radical innovation is needed, and must move from the margins to the mainstream. But what should inform this radical innovation? Co-production is a new way of thinking about public services. It has been described as the means of delivering public services in an equal and reciprocal relationship between professionals, users of the services, their families and their neighbours. When beneficial activities are co-produced in this way, both services and neighbourhoods become far more effective agents of change. Co-production has the potential to revolutionize how we deliver health, education, policing and other services, making them more effective, efficient and sustainable. Learn more as Lucie Stephens, Head of Co-production at the New Economics Foundation (UK), presents this innovative methodology.

1. nef (the new economics foundation) 1
Growing the Core Economy
an opportunity
for co-production
Lucie Stephens,
Head of Co-production
nef (the new economics foundation)

2. nef (the new economics foundation) 2

3. nef (the new economics foundation) 3
Overview
• About nef (the new economics foundation)
• The challenges we face
• Introducing the core economy
• Defining co-production
• Co-producing well-being
• Challenges to implementation

4. nef (the new economics foundation) 4
About nef
• Independent ‘think and do’ tank in London, UK
• Seeking sustainable social justice: the three economies
• Developed a range of practical tools and publications
including well-being, SROI and timebanking
• Work alongside practitioners to promote innovative
solutions
• Preparing for the ‘Great Transition’

5. nef (the new economics foundation) 5
The challenges we face
• Widening social and economic inequalities
• Demographic changes and growing health demands
• Accelerating climate change and environmental
degradation
• Severe energy shortages on the way
• Continuing recession
Economic growth is unlikely and undesirable
We need to pursue prosperity without growth

6. nef (the new economics foundation) 6
Addressing well-being

7. nef (the new economics foundation) 7
Our proposition
A prosperous future needs three
economies working together
– Planet : the natural economy
– Markets: a regulated market economy
– People: the human or ‘core’ economy
(Green Well Fair, nef 2009)

8. nef (the new economics foundation) 8
Here’s the real wealth
The
“core economy”
is made up of
countless
under-valued and
priceless
human and social
assets
that make it
possible for society
to flourish.

9. nef (the new economics foundation) 9
Elinor Ostrom
1933-2012
Nobel Prize for
Economics,
2009
Origins of co-production

10. nef (the new economics foundation) 10
Defining co-production
‘Co-production is a relationship where
professionals and citizens share power
to plan and deliver support together,
recognising that both partners have vital
contributions to make in order to
improve quality of life for people and
communities’.
Co-production critical friends group, 2012

11. nef (the new economics foundation) 11
Six elements of co-production
• Seeing people as assets
• Building on our capabilities
• Developing mutuality and reciprocity
• Investing in networks to share information
• Blurring distinctions between producers and
consumers
• Facilitating rather than delivering services

12. nef (the new economics foundation) 12

13. nef (the new economics foundation) 13

14. nef (the new economics foundation) 14

15. nef (the new economics foundation) 15

16. nef (the new economics foundation) 16

17. nef (the new economics foundation) 17

18. nef (the new economics foundation) 18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKATrzUV2YI
Have a look at this…

19. nef (the new economics foundation) 19
Co-producing services
Professionals
design services
People &
professionals co-
design services
People design
services
Professionals
deliver services
Traditional service
model
Co-designed
services
Professionals &
people co-deliver
services
Co-delivered
services Co-production
People deliver
services
People trained to
deliver services
Self-organised
community provision

20. nef (the new economics foundation) 20
Well-being

21. nef (the new economics foundation) 21
Self Determination
Theory

22. nef (the new economics foundation) 22
5 ways to wellbeing
• Connect
• Be active
• Keep learning
• Take notice
• Give

23. nef (the new economics foundation) 23
Where is co-production?
• When people or organisations identify with
core values and principles
• In response to pressure from people who
use services
• Where personalisation and personal
budgets are implemented
• When commissioners and other funders
explicitly seek to fund it.

24. nef (the new economics foundation) 24
Value of co-production
Monetary
value to
individuals and
the state
Increased
capacity and
imapct of
public
services
Intrinsic value
for individuals

25. nef (the new economics foundation) 25
Challenges to
implementation
• Service cuts and the Big Society
• Getting the metrics right
• Time poverty
• Improving funding approaches
• Balancing scale and localism
• Culture change