Essex Recovery Foundation: Co-Production Week Reshapes Support
As Co-Production Week 2025 unfolds across the UK, a quiet revolution is taking place in how addiction recovery services are designed and delivered in Essex. The traditional model of experts creating services for people is giving way to a more collaborative approach where services are developed with those who use them. This shift represents more than just a change in process, it's a fundamental reimagining of the relationship between service providers and those with lived experience of addiction.
The timing couldn't be more critical. With the UK behavioural rehabilitation market projected to reach USD 25,037.5 million by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6% from 2024 to 2030, ensuring these expanding services genuinely meet the needs of those they aim to help has never been more important. This growth is primarily driven by increasing awareness about mental health, rising substance abuse cases, and growing government initiatives to support rehabilitation services [1].
The scale of need is becoming increasingly apparent. Between April 2023 and March 2024, 310,863 adults in England engaged with drug and alcohol treatment services, marking a 7% increase from the previous year and the highest number since 2009-2010 [18]. This surge reflects a growing demand for accessible and effective treatment options, making the case for co-production approaches even more compelling.
The 'Working Together for Change' Framework: Translating National Co-Production Models to Essex Recovery Services
This week, Gateshead Council introduced a groundbreaking framework called 'Working Together for Change' as part of Co-Production Week 2025. The framework, developed with support from Inclusion North, outlines how adult social services will collaborate with communities and partners to find solutions and ensure continuous improvement. This initiative is part of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) campaign that promotes 'co-production' as a new way of working in equal partnership with citizens, offering communities greater choice and influence over local services [2].
The Gateshead framework establishes several key structural elements that enable genuine partnership between service providers and those with lived experience. These include dedicated co-production forums where service users have equal voting rights on decisions, transparent feedback mechanisms that show how user input has influenced service changes, and clear pathways for people with lived experience to progress from service users to peer mentors and eventually to paid roles within the organisation [2].
This national initiative provides a timely template for addiction recovery services in Essex to restructure their engagement processes. By adapting these principles to local contexts, Essex-based services can create more effective pathways that genuinely reflect the needs and experiences of those navigating recovery.
Beyond Tokenism: Creating Authentic Lived Experience Integration in Recovery Service Design
There's a world of difference between genuine co-production and tokenistic consultation. Many individuals across Essex face challenges that prevent meaningful participation in service design, including geographical barriers and transport limitations that prevent consistent access to recovery support services and participation in service development activities.
The complexity of recovery needs is becoming increasingly evident. In the same period as the treatment engagement surge, 72% of adults starting substance misuse treatment in England reported a concurrent mental health treatment need, a significant increase from 53% in 2018-2019 [18]. This highlights the intricate link between substance misuse and mental health issues, underscoring the need for holistic approaches that can only be effectively designed with input from those who have navigated these complex challenges.
Authentic co-production requires a shift in power dynamics. It means creating spaces where the expertise of lived experience is valued equally alongside professional knowledge. The Essex Recovery Foundation has been at the forefront of implementing co-production strategies in addiction recovery services, emphasizing the active involvement of individuals with lived experience and their families in designing and delivering support systems.
ERF's Community Voice forum exemplifies this approach. This innovative forum is composed of people in recovery, those currently in treatment, family members, and professionals working in drug and alcohol services. Meeting quarterly, the Community Voice forum provides a platform to discuss needs across Essex, review research gathered by community researchers, define strategic outcomes, decide on necessary resources to achieve these outcomes, and allocate funding to services [19].
Digital Co-Production: Leveraging Technology to Amplify Recovery Voices in Essex
The digital transformation of addiction services presents a unique opportunity to similarly transform co-production processes. The integration of digital health technologies has revolutionised addiction treatment, making care more accessible, especially for individuals in remote or underserved areas [3]. These same technologies can be repurposed to enable broader participation in service design and evaluation.
Many individuals across Essex face inadequate digital options for engaging with recovery support and co-production activities, particularly those with work commitments, caring responsibilities, or mobility issues. Addressing this gap is crucial for ensuring inclusive participation in service design processes.
ERF has developed several digital initiatives that demonstrate the potential for technology-enhanced co-production. Their Community Researchers program employs individuals with personal experience of addiction to gather insights directly from the recovery community. Their findings inform service development and commissioning decisions, ensuring that the voices of those with lived experience are integral to the decision-making process [20].
Digital platforms have revolutionised the way individuals in recovery share their experiences and participate in the recovery community. Online forums and social media groups dedicated to recovery offer individuals a platform to share their journeys, challenges, and successes. These communities provide peer support, reduce feelings of isolation, and offer diverse perspectives on recovery.
Measuring Impact: Evaluating Co-Production Outcomes in Addiction Recovery Support
For co-production to be sustainable, its impact must be measurable. Many individuals report difficulty measuring and demonstrating personal progress in recovery beyond traditional clinical metrics, leading to feelings that important aspects of recovery are overlooked.
ERF employs a multifaceted approach to assess the impact of its co-production initiatives on recovery outcomes and participant empowerment. Central to this approach is the integration of individuals with lived experience of addiction into the design and delivery of recovery services, ensuring that these services are both relevant and effective [21].
The effectiveness of family-centred recovery approaches is measured by tracking outcomes related to family well-being, gathering feedback from families, and observing engagement levels in the co-production process. ERF emphasizes the involvement of families in the recovery process through activities such as walk-and-talks, yoga sessions, and poetry workshops [21].
Community-based recovery models are evaluated by measuring both quantitative outcomes (such as reduced relapse rates) and qualitative outcomes (such as personal stories of transformation), capturing the human impact of recovery beyond mere statistics [22]. This comprehensive approach ensures that the full value of co-production is recognised and documented.
Building Recovery Capital Through Co-Production: The Essex Model
Co-production principles can specifically enhance recovery capital - the sum of resources that individuals can draw upon to initiate and sustain recovery. The recent opening of a Recovery Hub by Change Grow Live (CGL) in Rugby exemplifies how dedicated recovery spaces can support ongoing rehabilitation. The space has been refurbished to support local service users' ongoing rehabilitation, following recommissioning by Warwickshire County Council [5].
Essex has an opportunity to pioneer co-produced recovery spaces that specifically enhance the community's capacity to support long-term recovery. ERF advocates for community-based support models as powerful alternatives to traditional hospital settings. By facilitating recovery within familiar environments, these models reduce stigma and promote social connection [22].
ERF supports community-led initiatives that provide accessible and practical support for individuals and families facing addiction. The impact of these models is evaluated by measuring both quantitative outcomes and qualitative outcomes, capturing the human impact of recovery beyond mere statistics [22]. This approach underscores the importance of integrating professional guidance with the insights of lived experience to create support systems that are both evidence-informed and deeply relevant to real-world recovery challenges.
Overcoming Barriers: Addressing Challenges to Effective Co-Production in Addiction Services
Implementing effective co-production in addiction recovery services is not without challenges. Resource constraints represent a significant barrier, with limited funding often making it difficult to properly support meaningful involvement. In 2022-2023, only £101.2 million was allocated in additional grants for treatment and recovery services across the UK, which is insufficient to repair the damage caused by previous underfunding [6].
The economic impact of substance misuse underscores the urgency of addressing these challenges. Alcohol-related harm in Hertfordshire, a neighbouring county to Essex, is estimated to cost society over £524.8 million annually, encompassing healthcare, policing, lost productivity, and social care [23]. While specific figures for Essex are not provided, it is reasonable to infer that the economic and social impact is similarly substantial.
Other barriers include isolation and stigma within local communities, limiting the development of sustainable peer support networks essential for long-term recovery. Many also express frustration with fragmented services that don't reflect the holistic nature of recovery needs, particularly when transitioning between different phases of treatment and support.
Co-production in addiction services aims to balance power dynamics by involving individuals with lived experience in the design and delivery of services. However, overcoming entrenched power imbalances requires intentional strategies and a commitment to genuine collaboration. Establishing trust between service providers and individuals with lived experience is foundational, involving recognising the value of lived experience, actively listening to perspectives, and ensuring that input influences decision-making processes.
From Individual to System Change: Co-Production as a Catalyst for Transforming Essex's Recovery Ecosystem
The shift toward more holistic and personalised approaches to addiction treatment creates an ideal environment for co-production to flourish. The trend towards holistic and personalised treatment approaches is expected to continue, with more facilities integrating complementary therapies and individualised care plans to improve recovery outcomes [3].
Co-production can accelerate this trend by ensuring that personalisation is guided by those with lived experience rather than solely by professional judgment. In Essex, this could lead to a fundamentally different relationship between services and the communities they serve - one based on partnership rather than paternalism.
The UK government's 10-year drug strategy, "From Harm to Hope," further supports this collaborative approach by emphasizing workforce development in addiction treatment. The plan outlines funding for an additional 800 medical, mental health, and other professionals, and 950 additional drug and alcohol and criminal justice workers by the end of 2024/25 [14]. This investment in professional capacity creates an opportunity for ERF to enhance staff training in co-production methodologies.
"People seeking help with drug and alcohol addiction require individualised care to achieve sustained recovery," notes a 2025 Healthwatch report, highlighting the critical importance of person-centred approaches that align perfectly with co-production principles [15]. This external validation strengthens the case for continued investment in co-production as a cornerstone of effective recovery support.
Reshaping Recovery Support Through Collaborative Approaches
As Co-Production Week 2025 highlights the importance of equal partnership in service design, Essex stands at a crossroads. The opportunity exists to create a recovery support system that truly reflects the needs, experiences, and aspirations of those it aims to serve.
By embracing co-production principles, adapting national frameworks to local contexts, leveraging digital technologies, measuring impact, building recovery capital, addressing barriers, and driving system change, Essex can lead the way in reshaping addiction recovery support.
The journey toward genuine co-production is not always straightforward, but the potential benefits, more effective services, empowered communities, and improved recovery outcomes make it a path worth taking. As we move forward, let's ensure that the voices of those with lived experience remain at the heart of how we design, deliver, and evaluate addiction recovery support in Essex.
Community recovery networks are increasingly recognised for their vital role in bridging service gaps and reducing the stigma associated with seeking help [16]. By continuing to develop these networks through authentic co-production approaches, ERF can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for individuals in recovery across Essex.
How can we better measure the success of co-production initiatives beyond traditional recovery metrics? What strategies might help overcome the geographical barriers that limit participation in co-production activities across Essex? These questions will be crucial as we continue to develop more inclusive, effective recovery support systems that truly reflect the diverse needs of our communities.
Our Opinion
We believe that true recovery support must be built hand-in-hand with the people it serves. Our experience shows us that lived experience is not just valuable; it is the essential foundation for creating services that genuinely meet people's needs and foster lasting social connection. We know that overcoming challenges like geographical distance and ensuring everyone feels heard requires intentional effort, including thoughtfully using digital tools and nurturing accessible regional spaces where community can thrive. Measuring success goes beyond numbers; it's about the strength of our community, the empowerment of individuals, and the personal stories of hope and transformation we see every day.
For us, co-production isn't a strategy; it's simply how we work. It reflects our core belief that those who have walked the path of recovery hold unique wisdom that professionals cannot replicate. We are committed to ensuring that this wisdom shapes every aspect of what we do, from designing support programmes to allocating resources. This approach allows us to build recovery capital across Essex, creating a supportive ecosystem where individuals and families can find the resources and connection they need to build brighter futures. We stand firm in our conviction that partnership, built on trust and mutual respect, is the most effective way to support recovery.
About the Author
Laurence Hickmott is a key figure at the Essex Recovery Foundation, contributing significantly to the organisation's mission of building a visible recovery community. With a deep commitment to supporting individuals affected by drug and alcohol addiction, Laurence has been instrumental in developing initiatives that empower people with lived experience to influence service delivery and change perceptions of addiction and recovery in Essex.
References
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