The Social Care Futures Conference aims to bring together diverse voices to rethink the future of social care, the conference continues to be a vital platform for shaping innovative approaches within the sector. Medequip also form part of the Social Care Futures community of practice for providers. Alex Roberts from Medequip’s Engagement Team attended the Social Care Futures Conference in Manchester on 19th September 2024 to learn more about co-production strategy & to help Medequip understand how to be more inclusive when working with people with lived experience.
A couple years ago Medequip started meeting once a month to discuss strategies & community project work, sharing our journeys to inspire others to work a little bit differently. The word ‘Co-production’ was a little scary at first but after working with organisations such as Healthwatch & Community Catalysts Medequip’s knowledge on co-production increased through training sessions & working together on projects.
Medequip have been developing practises ever since and pro-actively reaching out into the community to get the thoughts and feelings of people who use our service, running satisfaction surveys and formulating action plans based on the feedback. Action plans have signed off by commissioners in some Medequip contract areas & we are starting to see the positive impacts of our work.
During the conference Alex attended two key workshops focused on advancing inclusivity and collaborative change within the social care sector.
The first workshop, "Making Events Inclusive," explored the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and other marginalised groups when attending events. Alex noted, “This session really highlighted the importance of not only designing events with good intentions but also actively listening to people’s lived experiences. The practical strategies shared on making events more accessible and welcoming were invaluable.”
In the afternoon, Alex took part in the "Working Together for Change" workshop, which focused on how individuals who use social care services, providers, and policymakers can collaborate effectively to create lasting change. “The workshop emphasised breaking down traditional hierarchies and ensuring that those directly affected by decisions have real power in shaping them. It was an inspiring session that highlighted the need for true co-production in social care,” said Alex.
Reflecting on the day, Alex expressed a deep sense of motivation, stating, “The conference reinforced that real, meaningful change is possible when we prioritise inclusion, collaboration & invest in our workforce.”