Devon’s commitment to the Four Cornerstones as a tangible framework for improving co-production and working towards more consistent and meaningful involvement of children and young people with SEND and their families in decisions that affect their lives, is to be celebrated. There is strategic recognition that a change of approach has long been needed and steps are currently being implemented to transform services across Education, Health and Care with the aim of improving experience. There have been some excellent initiatives that are beginning to strengthen relationships, for example setting up the Four Cornerstones Oversight Committee and the role of the Ambassadors Volunteers.
However, it is evident that many children, young people and their families are continuing to live with the legacy of blaming, combative approaches that have led to a lack of trust and distress, frustration, isolation and often hardship. As a result there have been increased pressures on statutory and formal processes which, in turn, have impacted upon the resource and capacity of services and practitioners
to invest time in building relationships and developing the partnerships needed for co-production, particularly at an individual level, creating a vicious cycle.
It is acknowledged by current leaders that there needs to be ongoing commitment to repairing relationships and embedding trust, and that this will require resource, tenacity and resilience. It is accepted that restoration alongside transformation is required. The Genuine Partnerships team is convinced of a shared commitment to these aims and that this is generating hope. The appreciative inquiry approach made it possible to highlight that there is good practice across all sectors to build upon and at the Cornerstones event it was clear from the priorities identified that
strengthening this will be as important as addressing areas for development. The two are connected. There is a will make change together.
Nevertheless, past experiences have led to inevitable scepticism. It will take time for trust to be cultivated, and there will be occasions this will be tested. As has been reflected in the narratives shared by focus group participants, through the survey, and at the in-person event, there are likely to be continued frustrations and barriers to overcome as partners learn to understand and communicate with each other. The pace of change may not always feel quick enough, so beginning by identifying specific actions that address the most significant priorities identified by children, young people and their families through this project will be an important part of the process.
Within the report, what is going well in respect of Devon SEND and co-production is highlighted under each of the Four Cornerstones. Partners are advised to focus on area strengths as a positive foundation for future work together as well as on priorities for development. The narratives shared reflect commitment to moving away from conflict towards a culture that demonstrates transparency, partnership and care so that children, young people and their families can truly thrive. The adoption of the Cornerstones model is a good foundation. Working together to
create a shared understanding of what co-production means in Devon will provide a common language.
Despite the participation of so many partners through the course of the project, the stories shared inevitably offer a snapshot of experiences across the local area. It is to be acknowledged there will be different versions of the same experience. The team therefore recommends that the co-productive process is reinforced by partners accepting there will always be different perspectives so showing ongoing commitment to collaboration with children, young people and parent carers at every step to ensure as representative a range of voices as possible must always
be the aspiration.
The team advises that the information shared in this report informs a jointly shaped action plan focusing specifically on co-production and on what should happen next to strengthen and better embed this way of working across SEND, so that the lives of children, young people and families of Devon are positively and tangibly impacted. Identifying responsibilities, timescales and review dates will address the plea expressed at the Cornerstones event to move from rhetoric to reality.