Sharing power – Making it Real in Norfolk

by Hayley Burwood, Jo Clapham, Julie Brociek-Coulton, Penny Holden, Tom Fadden and Mary Fisher


Co-production cannot work without sharing power and decision-making. This invariably means that one group has to give up some power in order for others to gain influence. In Norfolk a three-way partnership has been set up so that Adult Social Care commissioners and County Councillors share decision-making more equally with people with lived experience of using Adult Social Care
Services. Our blog shows how we share power by making sure everyone can participate, co-chairing, co-opting councillors and actively championing co-production.

Hayley Burwood, Co-chair

Making it Real Norfolk

People with lived experiences can be left voiceless because documents or the way someone presents information is inaccessible. At Making it Real we try hard to be inclusive so, not only do we provide accessible information, we provide it in an inclusive way. For example, giving ourselves enough time to digest the information. Hayley co-chairs Making it Real Norfolk and has developed a guide for visitors to the Making it Real Board so they can prepare their presentations in plain English and easy read format. Hayley says, “Sharing power is about the team all working together. Putting all those views together is an amazing thing because everyone is involved.”

Jo Clapham, Co-chair

Making it Real Norfolk and

Adult Social Care

commissioner

Jo says, “As a Commissioner of Adult Services, I look at data such as how many people have used a service, how long for and what happened to them afterwards. But will this never tell me what it feels like to use a service, what really makes the difference and what can be improved. Meaningful decisions about services cannot be made unless we work together with the people those services are there to support.”


“Hayley is the elected co-Chair of the Making it Real Board and I usually co-chair the Board meetings with Hayley on behalf of Adult Social Services. The fact that we chair the meetings together is a good example of power-sharing. In fact, as Hayley is the elected Co-chair and I am not, I will always follow Hayley’s lead, and be there to support her and guide discussions when needed with my experience of the county council and adult social services. Hayley and I work
really well together as we bring our different backgrounds and experiences together to make sure that all Board members get to have their say.”

Councillor Julie

Brociek-Coulton

Councillors have been co-opted onto our board. Julie is Norfolk County Council Carers Champion. Julie says, “When I was asked if I wanted to be co-opted onto Making it Real I was really excited because I had heard of the good work the group does. Working with Making it Real has helped me to push through the council rights for disabled people and co-production. A good example of co-production was when we were putting a group together for the Carers Day on 14th June. I made sure that as Carers Champion for Norfolk we had 3 carers to give advice on what they thought would make the day a success. Thanks to them it was.”

Penny Holden,

Champion of Co-production

Penny is a Champion of Co-production. Such has been Penny’s activities, it was hard to know which things to omit from this blog. Penny is a strong advocate of peer support and better mental health services and she is
promoting co-production training. Penny says, “I have a lifetime’s experience of mental health services and I am also physically disabled. I took forward my ideas on peer support to adult social care and, as a result, a peer support project is underway.”


“We need to show people how to co-produce. Norfolk’s mental health services have been in special measures three times. My lived experience means I can help them to share power through co-production to find a better way forward.”

Tom Fadden, Chair of Equal Lives

Tom is Chair of Equal Lives, a disabled peoples’ user-led
organisation supporting disabled people in Norfolk and beyond. 

“As a new member of Making It Real I am really pleased to see the constructive dialogue between all members from many different backgrounds working
towards improving Adult Social Care Services for disabled people in Norfolk. I was particularly pleased the group were able to have discussions and share their experiences with the Director of Adult Social Care in Norfolk to give reality to what is happening on a day to day basis for people who use Adult Social Care Services. Co-production goes hand in hand with independent living and ensures that there is nothing about us without us!’”

Mary Fisher, Making it Real
Norfolk Coordinator

Mary Co-ordinates Making it Real Norfolk. Mary says, “Jo and her colleagues in adult social care helped us to meet with councillors and not one but three councillors asked to be co-opted onto the board. We have never looked back. We are sharing power more equally so everyone has a voice. It is no longer a “them and us” approach but is meaningful co-production.”