Definition
When people are invited to express their views and opinions about a particular service or proposed change, before any final decisions are taken.
Local councils, NHS and organisations that provide services may consult people before making a change that will affect them. They may be able to give their views in writing, for example by completing a survey, or in discussion at a meeting or focus group.
The bigger picture
Consultation is something that organisations do to people. People are invited to share their views, but are often not part of influencing the design of the consultation or the reason for it, or involved in the final decision-making.
Consultation is sometimes described as co-production, but this is wrong, as there is not an equal and reciprocal partnership and while the result of the consultation may have some influence, decisions are still made by the organisation.
Saying it differently
Use ‘working with’ or ‘co-production’ where people work together in an equal and reciprocal partnership to agree what good looks like and to achieve it.
Use consultation if people are invited to share their views where decisions have already been made, and will continue to be made, without people’s full involvement at all stages. For example, if people who draw on care and support are invited to complete a survey to express their views about a service, and their views have some influence, but they are not included in designing the survey questions and format, and any final plans or decisions are made without them.