Building Engagement Pathways for Under-Represented Voices
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📘 Blog 5 of 7 in our Co-Production & Engagement Series
Building Engagement Pathways for Under-Represented Voices
Links to all 7 blogs in this series are at the bottom of this post.
🌍 Why Inclusion Matters
In social care, co-production often risks being shaped by the most confident or articulate voices. This leaves out groups who may face communication barriers, cultural differences, or systemic marginalisation. True co-production means ensuring everyone’s perspective can shape services — not just those already comfortable speaking up.
Commissioners and inspectors increasingly ask: “How do you ensure under-represented voices are heard?” Providers who can evidence this are seen as more inclusive, person-centred, and resilient.
🧭 Identifying Under-Represented Voices
Groups often under-represented in co-production include:
- People with learning disabilities or limited communication.
- Individuals with mental health conditions who may not attend formal meetings.
- Older adults with dementia or frailty.
- Ethnic minority groups facing cultural or language barriers.
- Unpaid carers with limited time to engage.
By recognising who is missing from the conversation, providers can design targeted engagement pathways.
🛠️ Practical Approaches
- Accessible formats — Easy Read, translated materials, pictorial surveys.
- Community partners — faith groups, advocacy services, local charities acting as bridges.
- Flexible engagement — home visits, telephone surveys, short online polls.
- Assistive technology — voice-to-text, captioning, communication aids.
- Safe spaces — culturally appropriate or trauma-informed forums where people feel able to speak freely.
These approaches show commissioners that you go beyond “tick-box” engagement — you proactively create equity.
💡 Practical Example (Learning Disability Supported Living)
Scenario: A provider wants to gather feedback from people with profound communication needs.
- ❌ Weak approach: Sending a written survey to all residents.
- ✅ Stronger approach: Keyworkers use communication passports and symbols to gather responses; family carers attend feedback sessions; an independent advocate validates findings.
By adapting the pathway, the provider evidences inclusive engagement that shapes service improvements.
📣 Tender and Inspection Relevance
Commissioners reward bids that show clear pathways for under-represented voices. For example:
- A domiciliary care bid demonstrating outreach to unpaid carers.
- A learning disability tender showing Easy Read involvement tools.
- A home care submission evidencing engagement with ethnic minority elders.
For inspections, inclusive co-production links directly to Well-Led and Responsive domains.
🧰 Getting Tender-Ready
- Identify groups currently under-represented in your feedback and governance.
- Create tailored engagement pathways (with formats, partners, and tools).
- Track participation data and outcomes (e.g., % of minority voices included).
- Embed pathways into your strategies and method statements.
- Test and refine during bid strategy training to ensure clarity in tenders.
📚 Catch up on the full Co-Production & Engagement Series:
- 📘 Why Co-Production Matters in Social Care
- 🧭 Principles of Co-Production: From Tokenism to True Partnership
- 👥 Involving Families and Carers in Service Design
- 🏛️ Co-Production in Governance and Quality Assurance
- 🌍 Building Engagement Pathways for Under-Represented Voices
- 💡 Case Studies: Co-Production That Changed Services
- 📄 Evidencing Co-Production in Tenders and Inspections