Professionals, partners and people involved in co-production of mental health services across Essex will be attending an event focused on the role of lived experience in shaping better care and support at The Latton Bush Centre, Harlow, on Monday 12 October.
Jointly supported by Essex County Council Adult Social CareandEssex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), the conference will bring together colleagues from mental health, social care, community services, charities and the voluntary sector.
Attendees will hear directly from people with lived experience, share good practice, build relationships and explore how co-production can improve support for people with mental health needs across Essex.
Co-production means working with people with lived experience, carers, practitioners and community partners from the beginning. It helps make services more inclusive, person-centred and responsive to what people say matters most to them.
Among the speakers will be:
- People with lived experience who are working with mental health teams at EPUT.
- Raf Hamaizia, national lived experience leader and Expert by Experience Lead for Cygnet.
- Sport for Confidence, an occupational therapy led service which aims to make access to physical activity and sport fairer.
- Mid Essex Recovery College and Northeast Essex Recovery College, which provide free workshops and courses to support people with their mental health recovery.
Local organisations will also have stalls to share information about support and resources.
The Co-Production Conference was originally the idea of the late Mark Dale, who was a Governor, Patient Safety Partner and champion of co-production at EPUT. Mark sadly died in 2024.
Matthew Sisto, Director of Patient Experience, Partnerships and Population Health at EPUT, said:“The conference is now in its fourth year and is part of Mark’s legacy of putting the voice of those with lived experience of our services across all areas of the Trust’s work.
“It’s fantastic to see there’s so much interest and demand each year to celebrate the power of co-production and provide inspiration for how we can work alongside people with lived experience to deliver compassionate care that meets the needs of the people we serve.”
Councillor Paul Godfrey, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care said: “People with lived experience have a vital role in helping us understand what works, what needs to change and how services can make a real difference in people’s lives.
“This event is an opportunity to listen, learn and work together with partners across Essex so that co-production becomes part of how we design, deliver and improve support.”
The event will also highlight the importance of collaboration between health, social care and voluntary sector organisations in supporting people with mental health needs.
About EPUT
- EPUT has a vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care: Who we are – Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- EPUT provides services to more than 100,000 patients at any one time and our staff are focused on providing high quality care in often complex situations.
- The organisation has invested in inpatient facilities and community services to make them safer and more therapeutic. We have extensively invested in technology to keep patients safer, enhanced training, and are continuously working with our staff, patients, their families and carers to use learning and best practice to enhance our quality of care.
- While there is more to do, the Trust has made significant progress through innovation:
- Our 111 mental health crisis phone line ensures people in need can access support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- People with lived experience have been employed in designated roles across the Trust, ensuring patient voice is heart of the organisation and all that we do.
- A number of new initiatives have been launched, helping people access the support they need when they need it most. These include a mental health urgent care department, By Your Side maternal mental health service, Rough Sleeper team, mental health crisis ambulance cars, virtual wards and neuromodulation service.
- EPUT was formed on 1 April 2017 and provides community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex, Luton and Bedfordshire and Suffolk. We employ more than 7,200 staff working across more than 200 sites.
- To read more about our priorities and commitments to deliver the highest quality and safest care possible, visit https://eput.nhs.uk/about-us/2023-2028-strategic-plan/