IMPACT: Advancing coproduction in adult secure care in the East Midlands
IMPACT, the East Midlands Provider Collaborative for adult secure care, brings together NHS providers and independent sector partners to deliver high-quality, consistent, and person-centred care. Nottinghamshire Healthcare leads the collaborative, which includes Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, and independent providers such as St Andrew's Healthcare, Cygnet, Elysium Healthcare, and Priory Group. These organisations work together to improve outcomes for adults in secure care by sharing expertise, resources, and a commitment to coproduction.
The last year has been significant for advancing coproduction. By involving people with lived experience in every stage of decision-making, services have become more inclusive, responsive, and reflective of the needs of those who use them. Achievements over the past year-from recognition awards to patient-led initiatives-show how working together can lead to meaningful change.
A key driver of this progress has been the regional service user reference group (SURG), which brings together service users from across the East Midlands to guide priorities and lead important work streams. These include redesigning the assertive transition service, developing a patient performance dashboard, and creating voluntary and work opportunities. SURG, chaired by service users, reports directly to the clinical reference and governance group, where it influences discussions among senior clinicians. A SURG roadshow, supported by partner organisations, increased service user participation by 162%.
Training programmes have further empowered service users, giving them the skills and confidence to take part in governance. These initiatives have enabled service users to chair SURG meetings, contribute to the clinical reference and governance group, and present at IMPACT board meetings. Partner organisations have been instrumental in supporting these developments, ensuring lived experience stays central to shaping services. A coproduction roadshow, held across nine units in the region, shared best practices and gathered feedback from service users and staff, helping to improve how coproduction is implemented.
One service user reflected on their experience with SURG, saying: "Over the past three years, I've gained so much from being part of SURG. My confidence has grown, my communication skills have improved, and I've had opportunities to co-chair meetings and take part in training. These experiences have helped me to have a voice in my own care and to influence decisions that matter to service users. Thanks to the support and opportunities available through IMPACT, I am now progressing in my rehabilitation, taking on voluntary work, and preparing for the next stage of my journey."
Another important achievement has been the co-designed patient data dashboard. This collaborative tool, developed with input from service users and partner teams, allows service users to see key information like length of stay and restraint incidents. It reflects service users' priorities, supports transparency, and builds trust by helping people understand and engage with their care. To celebrate contributions, the most engaged unit award was introduced, recognising teams that excel in involving service users and staff in shaping services. This award highlights how engagement drives positive change and inspires others.
Pictured: The Priory Lincolnshire Hospital, who won Most Engaged Unit.
Names from left to right : Palmer Chinosengwa, Sarah Stringer, Reza Ghaderi, Jade Farrell
Patient-led environmental assessments, piloted as part of the women's transformation pathway, allowed service users to assess and provide feedback on their physical environments. Insights from these assessments have led to improvements in accessibility, safety, and overall care, setting the stage for wider implementation. Additionally, the service user talent showcase, featured in IMPACT's quarterly newsletter, provided a platform for service users to share their creativity and skills. This initiative, with 87.5% of submissions from the learning disability and autism pathway, shows the unique contributions of this group and helps service users engage in new and meaningful ways.
On a national level, IMPACT's coproduction team, supported by regional and local partners, has contributed to several key projects. These include:
- Representing lived experience at national meetings to influence healthcare policies.
- Contributing to the transformation of the national women's secure pathway to make services more inclusive and trauma informed.
- Developing a coproduction toolkit with the Royal College of Psychiatry to help mental health professionals embed lived experience in their work.
"These achievements show the strength of working in partnership", said Ifti Majid, Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. "Through collaboration with service users, partner organisations, and independent providers, we are embedding lived experience at the heart of everything we do. Together, we are shaping services that are inclusive, transparent, and driven by the voices of those who know them best."
Jade Farrell, IMPACT Communications and Coproduction Manager, added: "Through my leadership in coproduction, I have ensured that lived experience is not just heard but actively shapes services, policies, and decision-making. From developing national toolkits and dashboards to embedding service user involvement in governance and commissioning, I have led initiatives that have increased engagement, improved outcomes, and driven cultural change. True coproduction is about power sharing, and by creating meaningful opportunities for involvement."
IMPACT continues to drive forward coproduction, working with partners to build a more inclusive, transparent, and responsive healthcare system. You can find out more about IMPACT on their website.
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