Co-producing research with care experienced young adults and social work professionals

Drawing on the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) principles of co-production, the chapter reflects on and critiques the approaches adopted in two leaving care studies. The first employed care-experienced young adults as peer researchers in a study that aimed to advance understanding of the ‘ingredients’ to implement and sustain innovations. In the second study, a Networked Learning Community (NLC) was established, bringing together care-experienced young people, frontline practitioners, and managers to develop accessible tools and resources to support social work practice. The findings highlight the need for attentiveness to relational safety, capacity-building, and reflective practices. They also demonstrate the role that values play in building authentic relationships, and disrupting traditional power hierarchies. However, practical considerations, including training, adequate time and resources, and the use of a range of communications channels, are also important. The chapter concludes with a call for further formal evaluation of co-production models, particularly the NLC model, and their long-term effects on both research outcomes and the development of participants’ skills and confidence.