Adult Social Care Communication and Engagement​

• One Halton Coproduction Charter

Meeting of the Co-Production Advisory Board 9^th June 2026

• The group received thanks for their contributions towards work since the last meeting and updated on how their views have been used – including the development of the service feedback questionnaire; the review of the Living Well in Halton Guide, in particular the feedback from Halton Speak Out on devising an Easy Read version; and to those who contributed to the values section of the Market Position Statement – Page 6 of the document.
• The current Carers Strategy will be out of date by March 2027, so we’re starting to work with Halton Carers Centre to look at some engagement and coproduction events with carers – please look out for more information.
• Coproduction Week is coming up 29^th June to 3^rd July. We will be undertaking some promotion and awareness raising activity.
• Mapping of groups of experts by experience underway – contributions and updates welcome.
• The Head of Service for Safeguarding, Mental Health and Quality Assurance attended the meeting to talk about the Halton Safeguarding Adults Board (HSAB), its role and how this group could support the Partnership Forum though representation. HSAB have a Planning Meeting in September are keen to have people with lived experience as part of that event. Group members to contact Steve Steve.Westhead@halton.gov.uk if they are interested. The group suggested a refreshed approach to raising awareness of how to report concerns, to consider some of those ‘seldom seen’ members of the community. Several ideas were put forward which will be discussed with the Adult Social Care Communications Officer.
• Service Development attended for input from the group for the Adult Social Care Annual Report. The annual report is always retrospective, and this one will cover the period April 2025 to April 2026. It will look at what’s been done during this time, but it will also set anticipated priorities for the year going forward. From next year it is anticipated that the report will be fully coproduced by this group and the group were invited to think about that might be achieved. For this year, feedback was given on the format and content of previous years’ reports and the group looked at what could be included for this year. They spoke about how it could be brought ‘alive’ with more real experience, and were invited to help develop case studies to go in the report. Further feedback can be given to Fran.alecock@halton.gov.uk

 The next meeting is 16^th September in Runcorn.

​​​Meeting of the Co-Production Advisory Board 2^nd March 2026​​

• Acknowledgement and thanks went to the group’s members who participated in the recent Director of Adult Social Services (DASS) recruitment panel.
• Nicola thanked those who’ve sent ideas on commissioning values in relation to the commissioning strategy, including Speak Out having run a group.
• The group’s views and ideas provided about how to gain feedback from people who use social services have resulted in a revised feedback form. Subject to senior management team approval, the QR and short-form web address will now be available via care plan printouts, letters to clients and used as part of worker email signatures and available on the Council website. Thanks to all for input in developing the process. 
• Dean Tierney attended the meeting to introduce himself. Dean has recently taken up the post of Interim Head of Service for Care Management, and this also involves taking up the role of the Principal Social Worker. Dean talked about previous coproduction work that he’s been involved in and gave a specific example of working with a member of the group to produce the Disabled Parents Policy. Dean also provided an update on the Transition Team and changes to protocols that they have developed through learning from the past. The group questioned access points to the Transition Team. Dean confirmed that there’s an online referral process, in addition to traditional phone routes, and this is helping people get through to the right team quicker. For accessing the Transition Team this is part of the Local Offer webpages. Dean spoke about having experts by experience as part of recruitment panels and he’s spoken across all his team areas to ensure that this is to be included going forward. Dean discussed potential coproduction areas, which could include input from this group, including a range of policies coming up for renewal. 
• Dean discussed with the group that there’s lots of focus to be had on technology, both in terms of use of AI for working practices and sensors, equipment, communication tools in care settings (e.g. supported living). He explained how the Council has been looking at use of technology to manage care needs. A member of the group volunteered to support Dean with workstreams looking at technology and AI use in our services. 
• Stephen Purcell from the Health Improvement Team attended the group to speak about embedding ‘system wide’ opportunities for physical activity. The group discussed the need for commissioned services to have exercise hours as part of people’s outcomes in their personal plan, and that care management have a responsibility to make it part of care and support conversations. Stephen asked the groups to discuss barriers to physical activity as well as enablers – lots of suggestions were made. 
• The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 9^th June 2026

Outcomes of the Co-Production Group meeting held on 4th December 2025

The group discussed the following:

Prevention and Wellbeing Service – The service manager provided a background to the service and recent staffing changes. Over last 18 months referral process has changed to make it easier for people to be referred and get the right support. Discussion was had about the potential role of a group of carers/advocates who could give advice and ideas to further improve the service and customer experience going forward.

Transition Service - The group were updated on the work done around Transition and the things that have been identified that can help further improve the service, as the Transition Protocols are being reviewed. Discussion was had about suggested areas of focus and potential ways in which the customer experience can be enhanced. The Head of Service will attend the next Co-Production Group meeting to provide some more information about what steps are being taken and any new updates in the service.

Gathering feedback from people who use adult social care services - There was feedback given by the group on how to engage people more when it comes to giving feedback about services and experiences. There was discussion about the various methods that could be used and how the feedback can be used.

Executive Director Recruitment – The group were brought up to date with the recruitment process underway for the Executive Director of Adult Social Care. Volunteers from the group are being invited to help, as part of a panel involved in the recruitment process.

Outcomes of the Co-Production Group meeting held on 30th September 2025

The group discussed the following:

• Outcomes from the last meeting – including finalising the ‘Adult Social Care Coproduction – Recognising and rewarding experts by experience for their contributions’ policy, and agreeing the ‘Terms of Reference’ document to constitute the group.
• Gaining wider representation – in particular, the importance of an older person’s representative and a supported living representative in the group.
• The work of the Urgent Care Service, including Hospital Discharge and Reablement. The group were invited to share their experiences with the Head of Service for Urgent Care, who will take this insight back to the team for consideration of how best to support people with existing additional needs.
• The Adults Directorate’s CQC outcome and implementation of the associated improvement plan.
• Identifying areas of work that group members would like to get involved in or hear more about.​

Outcomes of the Co-Production Group meeting held on 23^rd July 2025

The group discussed the following:

• ​Co-Production – what it is, how we have been doing co-production over the last few years how we would like people to be involved in the future.
• Overview of Adult Social Care – what Adult Social Care looks like in Halton.
• Adult Social Care Annual Report – what we should include in the report.
• Recognising and rewarding people’s involvement in co-production – payment for involvement and how expenses should be calculated.
• How the group should be set up and future areas of focus.

A summary of how specific recent engagement activity has helped shape adult social care in Halton can be found here.​

Developing Coproduction across One Halton​

Working with self advocates in relation to adults with learning disability

In August 2025 there was the first of several meetings with self-advocates and Halton Speak Out that took place linked to the Adults with Learning Disability (ALD) Strategy and to help inform priorities of ALD Partnership Board. As a result of this:

• The self-advocates’ vision was agreed for inclusion in ALD strategy.
• There was discussion key issues to raise at future ALD Partnership Board meetings and who should be involved in those meetings.
• It was agreed that engaging with self-advocates will take place ahead of each partnership board meeting to ensure that their views are represented at the Board.

In November 2025 key stakeholders from across our Adults’ directorate came together for a workshop about existing projects specifically for Adults with Learning Disability (ALD) services and to celebrate successes so far; The workshop focused on how we can work together to deliver future, impactful transformation activities, as well as continuing to provide good outcomes for people using services and enhanced flexibility and independence. The insights and feedback gathered are now helping to shape a delivery plan for the next steps, keeping positive outcomes for the people we support at the heart of everything we do. In the coming weeks, stakeholders will help refine this plan, and we’ll continue to share updates and invite feedback as we move forward together.