By Chris Edmond
AS I write this column, we don’t yet know officially who will be our new Chief Minister. However, by the time of publication, it’s almost certain the States will have confirmed Deputy Kristina Moore in the position, so today I reflect on her published vision.
I actually care more about how the new government works, and not so much about the specifics of particular policies at this stage. We need a more collaborative government which engages the talents, experiences and expertise of all Islanders.
I was delighted, therefore, to see Deputy Moore’s vision paper talk of the ‘need to bring the government and the States back to the people. If this election demonstrated anything it is the need to fight apathy and build engagement, communication and collaboration’.
Deputy Moore also plans, within her first 100 days, ‘a project to set out how Islanders can better engage with government, what information is available and how we can improve.’
I would, however, challenge the new government to go even further.
To give some background, I recently became a director at Jersey Recovery College (JRC). Aside from the amazing courses they provide for people with mental-health difficulties, the main attraction for me working with JRC was their approach to developing services – called ‘co-production’.
From the initial launch of JRC six years ago, executive officer Beth Moore embraced co-production at the heart of everything the charity does. This meant that people with experience of mental ill-health worked with professionals to develop the strategy, the structure, the governance and the services delivered by the college. And most importantly they did this with the power shared equally with the professionals involved.
JRC courses continue to be developed and delivered in equal partnership between those with lived experience and those with professional experience.
And co-production can extend to politics too.
Co-Production Wales say that ‘the key feature of co-production is that we work together in equal and reciprocal relationships. It’s not the professionals coming in as experts and talking to citizens, and maybe consulting them about what’s the best way of going forwards. It’s about citizens and professionals working together, understanding that both share power and both share responsibility’.
Take a moment to contrast that with traditional politics, whereby policy is often dictated to us by our leaders, or even ‘consultation’ whereby we are asked our opinion but not necessarily listened to. In most political structures, and public services, the power and decision-making is still centralised and guarded by the privileged few.
So how does co-production of policy work in reality? As an example, take another initiative I have been involved with recently – the Jersey Food Systems Lab. It was established by local food experts, linked with the SCOOP sustainable co-operative. The JFSL has brought together individuals from the food industry, the civil service, politics, educators and health professionals to explore how nature, farming, food, economy and health can be reconnected in an Islandwide approach.
Although a young initiative, the JFSL has already led to new insights into the food system in Jersey, and how we need to change to provide good food, sustainable business and a healthy future for the citizens of Jersey and beyond.
What has been amazing to see is the willingness of the participants to work together, despite sometimes holding opposing points of view or competing priorities.
This approach can extend well beyond mental-health services and the food system. To quote Co-Production Wales again: ‘Co-production is about everyone coming together, pooling resources and abilities, building on each other’s potential to identify problems and then to solve them. The problems could be in health, environment, housing, wellbeing. It doesn’t matter what it is but it’s all of us working together.’
I would suggest our new government look to both the Jersey Recovery College and the Jersey Food Systems Lab as examples of how to genuinely collaborate and share power. It will take trust and new ways of working, but the rewards could be incredible.
In addition to co-production approaches, the new Chief Minister might look to the work of the OECD on innovative citizen participation, such as the new permanent citizens’ assemblies in Paris and Newham, London.
We have experimented with such approaches in Jersey in the areas of climate change and assisted dying, but now is the time to build citizen collaboration into the heart of our political structures.
Both co-production and participatory democracy can lead to improved policies and services.
But just as importantly, the processes create a community in which people are valued for their contributions and discover they can rely on one another – in that way the benefits extend well beyond the participants themselves.
I am certain that the time is right for us all to come together to co-produce a better future for our island.
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Dr Edmond is the founder and medical director of WorkHealth (CI) Ltd, a dedicated Jersey-based occupational health provider. He is also a director at Jersey Sport and adviser to the Jersey Community Foundation. He writes in a personal capacity.
