Making It Real Board launch new training programme to support council staff

New Coproduction training has been launched in Norfolk to ensure people with disabilities and unpaid carers are involved in developing new social care services

The Making it Real Board, an independent group of disabled people and unpaid carers, and Norfolk County Council has launched an innovative co-production training programme.

The new on-line training package is for Norfolk County Council staff and will provide good examples of co-production and how to do this correctly, from start to finish. It has been developed to help ensure that disabled people with lived experiences of Adult Social Services, are involved in the planning of changes in social care.

The Making it Real Board advises what good co-production is and how best to co-produce any changes and helps to make sure that the right people are involved in plans early on. By working together in co-production, the Making it Real Board and Norfolk County Council aim to improve access to good quality services that are more personalised, easily navigated and meet the needs of people with disabilities effectively.

Martin Symons, Co-Chair of the Making it Real Board said: "The launch of the training is a really important milestone for Making it Real. Our purpose is to promote and support co-production - because co-production means better services for everyone. We now have a fantastic learning course which we want everyone in Adult Social Services- and other departments to do. It's a great step forward"

Cllr Shelagh Gurney, Deputy Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: "We would like to thank Martin Symons and all the Board for all their hard work and dedication. We strongly believe that listening and working with the people we serve is key to developing effective services that fulfil the needs of those we help and support. We are committed to supporting the Making it Real Board to ensure that co-production is at the heart of the planning and developing of our services. "