Become Experts by Experience and shape adult social care

We are working with West Northamptonshire Council to support residents to get involved in shaping and improving adult social care services in the region. This work is called co-production, and it means making decisions together.

We’re inviting local people with lived experience of adult social care—whether you’ve received services yourself, care for someone who has, or are simply interested in making things better—to become Experts by Experience.

As an Expert by Experience, your voice helps influence how services are designed and delivered. You can participate in projects, share your views, and even join our co-production board to work alongside professionals and other residents.

We’ve put together some useful FAQs to help you and whether you want to contribute a little or a lot, your experience matters.

Useful documents

Register Expenses form Bank details form Decline payment form Participation guide

Experts by Experience FAQs

Co-production is about working together. It means professionals and people with lived experience share ideas, power, and responsibility to create services that benefit everyone.

Key features of co-production include:

  • Seeing people as experts in their own lives
  • Breaking down barriers between professionals and the public
  • Building on people’s strengths and experiences
  • Making sure everyone has a voice

In short, it’s a partnership: working together from the very start of a project through to its completion.

West Northamptonshire Council have written about the co-production approach on their website.

You can register as an Expert by Experience if any of the following apply to you:

  • You have received adult social care services
  • You are currently receiving support
  • You care for someone who does
  • You want to improve how social care works in your community

There’s no requirement to take part in everything – you can get involved as much or as little as you like, and there’s no pressure to continue if it’s not right for you.

As an Expert by Experience, you can get involved in a range of activities, including:

  • Joining the Co-Production Board (meets virtually every two months)
  • Helping to shape policies and the way services are commissioned
  • Giving feedback on how services support people, families and carers
  • Influencing frontline practice

You don’t need any special training – just your personal experience and willingness to share your thoughts.

You will be offered expenses and participation payments for your time and contributions.

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) values the lived experience of local residents and wants to work with Experts by Experience (EBEs) to shape and improve adult social care services. By listening to your views, we can ensure services meet the real needs of our community. You can find out more about WNC’s co-production approach and how to become an EBE on their website.

The Adult Social Care Co-Production Programme is run by Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire (VIN) on behalf of WNC. VIN supports EBEs to ensure your voice is heard, respected and acted upon. Together with WNC staff and EBEs, VIN forms part of the Adult Social Care Co-Production Board, which meets every two months online via Microsoft Teams.

VIN is a trusted local organisation with strong links to the community and West Northamptonshire Council. They are well placed to support co-production and ensure EBEs are fully involved in shaping adult social care. Learn more about VIN on their website.

This varies depending on the project, but most activities take between 1 and 3 hours. If you join the Co-Production Board, you’ll need to commit to at least 1 hour for each meeting.

We understand that people have different commitments and responsibilities, and we will do our best to offer flexibility.

Yes. EBEs are paid in line with recommendations from the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS).

To claim, you’ll need to complete a standard expenses form, available by emailing: asc-coproductionteam@westnorthants.gov.uk. If you prefer not to claim payment, you’ll need to complete a separate disclaimer form, which can also be requested via the same email.

To check how payments might affect your benefits, you can use this benefits calculator.

You can register your interest by emailing asc-coproductionteam@westnorthants.gov.uk, or by completing our registration form on this page.

Your main contact will be Russell Rolph, Chief Executive of VIN.

Your details will be held securely on VIN’s Co-Production Register. For more on how your information is stored and used, please see our Privacy Policy.

VIN stores your personal data securely and only shares it with WNC for your role as an EBE. You can read more in the VIN Privacy Policy and WNC Privacy Policy.

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