Appreciating collaborative service improvement – a case study on using appreciative inquiry methodology in co-production in mental health
| Published date | 02 August 2019 |
| Pages | 105-111 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-04-2019-0010 |
| Date | 02 August 2019 |
| Author | Nicholas Dent |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Social inclusion |
Appreciating collaborative service
improvement –a case study on using
appreciative inquiry methodology in
co-production in mental health
Nicholas Dent
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to examine the value of appreciative inquiry (AI) methodology in
enabling co-productive work within mental health service development.
Design/methodology/approach –The methodology of AI is described and observations on its use in
mental health service improvement are considered.
Findings –AI is a really helpful tool in supporting service improvement and is particularly applicable in mental
health discussions involving service users and carers. Many service users and carers engaging with service
development discussions have had adverse past experiences which can inhibit their successful contribution
to planning discussions. AI allows a more positive reflection on how servicescan be improved which can help
achieve positive results.
Research limitations/implications –AI methodology is a really useful tool in supporting improvement
discussions across health, and other public, services, and is particularly valuable in engaging mental health
service users and carers in such activity.
Practical implications –The method is useful across service development needs and could be developed
to support mental health service improvement locally, regionally and nationally. Developing the use of this
method could make a real contribution to improving relations between service users, carers and health staff
and support meaningful and positive change in the delivery of mental health services.
Social implications –Helping to overcome dissonance between service users and carers, and health
staff and commissioners; and developing the use of appreciative enquiry could enhance the value of
co-production as a key driver for service improvement.
Originality/value –The author is aware of little discussion of the value of appreciative enquiry in the growing
literature around co-production in mental health.
Keywords Appreciative inquiry, Co-production, Service user involvement
Paper type Case study
The need to involve service users as stakeholders in the planning process
The need to engagingservice users and carers as key stakeholdersin service improvementwork is
now well established and has been a cornerstone of the development of community care since
the NHS and Community Care Act 1990 (House of Commons, 1990) which required user
representativesto participate in locality planning activities tooversee the move from institutionalto
community care. Since that time user forums have been established to support service users in
contributing to planning work and some of these groups themselves have developed to provide
aspects of support for service users as well as to give them a voice in the planning process.
The value of involving service users as stakeholders in health services more generally was further
recognised by the National Health Service Act (House of Commons, 2006) which created a duty to
involve the public in commissioning discussions but importantly this was an area pioneered within
mental health services.
Nicholas Dent is based at
Department of Patient
Experience, Kent and Medway
NHS and Social Care
Partnership Trust,
Canterbury, UK.
DOI 10.1108/MHSI-04-2019-0010 VOL. 23 NO. 3 2019, pp. 105-111, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308
j
MENTALHEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
j
PAG E 10 5
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