Co-design and engagement enabling group evaluation report

Healthwatch Bolton undertook research on the impact of the Co-design and Engagement Enabling Group in Bolton. They explored the views of group members and co-design trainees through interviews, surveys and desk research to assess how effectively co-design had been embedded across local health and social care services. 

The evaluation found that the group had increased understanding and enthusiasm for co-design, created opportunities for joint learning and networking, and developed a range of practical resources including reports, toolkits, checklists and an evidence bank. Participants felt the group had helped create a community of practice, improved confidence in using co-design methods and encouraged collaborative working across organisations. 

However, the report found that co-design was not yet consistently embedded across the local system. Participants felt that application of co-design remained variable, leadership support was limited and organisations were at different stages of understanding and using co-design. Concerns were also raised about a lack of long-term planning, uncertainty about how widely resources were being used and difficulties securing buy-in from senior decision-makers. 

The evaluation concluded that the Co-design and Engagement Enabling Group had successfully generated discussion, built skills and created a stronger culture of engagement, but further work was needed to make co-design a routine part of service development. Recommendations included securing stronger leadership commitment, expanding training and mentoring, widening participation, developing additional case studies and practical resources, monitoring the impact of co-design activities and creating a longer-term workplan to support implementation.