Health Board Uses Lived Experiences of Mental Health to Improve Service Provision in Gwent
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has adopted a transformational approach to awarding community voluntary service contracts - by asking people with lived and living experience of mental health and learning disabilities services to decide which bid is successful.
As part of a new approach to the procurement process for Tendered Mental Health and Learning Disability contracts, the Health Board has brought together local people with Lived and Living Experience (including people who are in unpaid caring roles) of Mental Health and Learning Disability Services - along with employed Peer Support Workers – to form a Bid Evaluation Panel that reviews community voluntary services contracts. The panel, made up entirely of those with first-hand experiences of mental health and learning disabilities services, decides which organisation is most appropriate for the contract. Since its successful establishment in April 2024, the revolutionary co-production panel has awarded five Tendered Mental Health and Learning Disability contracts to community third sector organisations across Gwent.
Under the co-production approach, the Lived and Living Experience representatives provide unique perspectives, expertise and insight into mental illness, neuro-divergence and learning disabilities. This approach has been truly transformational for all involved; not only for Health Board operational staff and senior management, but also for panel participants. Their involvement in the evaluation process has helped staff rethink the way all future evaluation for the tendering of community voluntary services is undertaken.
As an integral part of planning, designing and providing Mental Health and Learning Disabilities services in the future, the new initiative is really helping to cement the Health Board and Division’s priority focus on co-production with patients, people in contact with services and those close to them (service users/unpaid carers).
Emily Hoskins, a Lived and Living Experience volunteer, said:
“I believe that lived experience participation should now be something that is used across the board where important decisions, training, evaluations and reflection happens within mental health and learning disability services. Nobody can describe what could've, should’ve or has made a difference to their recovery better than someone who has been through it first-hand. Those opinions would have a huge positive impact on directly choosing the support available to future service users, and their families/significant others.”
Rebecca John, one of 25 employed Peer Support Workers in the Division, said:
“It feels like ABUHB are really moving in the right direction, inviting and including service user voices, valuing our thoughts and opinions, hearing, and listening to us when making important decisions about what is on offer in terms of support and care from the partnerships. Empowering coproduction together. I’m all for it!”
Leanne Watkins, Chief Operating Officer for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, emphasised the value and need for true co-production with patients and carers.
She said: “I am delighted that our co-production evaluation panel has been so successful. It is only by directly involving people with lived and living experience of mental health, neuro-divergence and learning disabilities that we can truly transform our entire offer of care and support. We are committed to changing our models of care, moving away from more traditionally led medical services, to having peers and volunteers helping support recovery and discovery-oriented services. We will be working with the Community Voluntary Sector in different ways, involving them much more in multi-disciplinary teams across the entire Division. By awarding contracts to the right voluntary organisations, chosen by people living in Gwent, we will offer valuable preventative and early help for people who need our services.”