Mark Isherwood
North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood is calling for the Welsh Government to embrace the need for co-production in public service delivery, but is concerned Ministers “just aren’t getting it”.
Mr Isherwood, Shadow Minister for North Wales, Communities, Housing and Local Government, has raised the matter with both the First Minister and the Minister for Local Government and Government Business, Lesley Griffiths AM, in the Assembly Chamber this week, but has been disappointed by their responses.
Questioning the latter he asked:
“What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the Wales Council for Voluntary Action regarding its report on Citizen-Directed support for Vulnerable Groups, which highlighted scope for local authorities, health boards and the third sector to work much more imaginatively to develop better services that are closer to the people, more responsive to needs, and that add value for money by drawing on community resources?”
The Minister replied:
“I cannot answer the Member’s question about all Ministers’ meetings with the WCVA. I have certainly met with the third sector to discuss the issues you mention. It is absolutely vital that we do get value for money, which is not just about operational savings, but about added value benefits, if you like, community benefits, which, obviously, the third sector has a role to play in.”
Mr Isherwood added:
“The Minister just hasn’t got co-production, which requires charities, community organisations and citizens to play a key role at the centre of service design and delivery.
“At the recent Co-production Conference in Cardiff, Western Australia’s Mental Health Commissioner talked about how Australia has embraced co-production. He said that we have to decide whether we are adding on a programme or reforming the system. He said that instead of fitting people into programmes, co-production gets to know somebody, building supports around them and bringing people up to the same level of power, while building in systematic safeguards for people who are vulnerable.”
