Sue is the Director of the National Centre for Independent Living based in London and has been actively working in the disabled movement for many years, including 15 based at the Shropshire Centre for Independent Living. Bill, a former head teacher has extensive experience of working in user-led forums and is an expert advisor to a number of health and social care workforce reference groups. Both Sue and Bill are members of the National Co-production Advisory Group and represent the views of service users and carers to the Think Local, Act Personal Programme Board.
They will join the other co-chairs Richard Jones, representing local government and Miranda Wixon – representing the provider sector. Together they will lead the work programme for the partnership, which will focus on the six priority areas of personalisation and personal budgets; developing cost effective and efficient solutions; developing the provider market and workforce; building community capacity; improving information to the public and highlighting the importance of co-production.
The National Co-production Advisory Group recently worked alongside government policy makers and international citizenship experts during a series of England-wide Co-production and Big Society roadshows. They shared insight into the how co-production can be most effective in public services across health, social care, housing, employment and neighbourhood management.
Finally, the Think Local, Act Personal partnership will soon join Lancaster University and In Control in releasing results of the biggest ever survey of people’s experiences of personal budgets. Look out for further announcements in late June.
