Co-Production in Safeguarding, Risk and Restrictive Practice Decisions
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Safeguarding, risk management and restrictive practices are areas where co-production is often seen as challenging, yet they are also where lived experience can add the greatest value. Commissioners and regulators increasingly expect providers to demonstrate how people are involved in decisions about risk, safety and restriction. This expectation sits alongside risk management and safeguarding and broader approaches to positive risk-taking.
When co-production is absent in these areas, providers risk making decisions that are procedurally compliant but disconnected from people’s lived realities.
Why Lived Experience Matters in Risk Decisions
Risk is not experienced abstractly. People live with the consequences of risk decisions every day, whether through restrictions on movement, choices or routines. Involving lived experience helps providers understand the real impact of their decisions beyond paperwork.
This does not mean transferring responsibility for safeguarding to individuals, but it does mean recognising people as partners in understanding and managing risk.
Commissioner and Regulatory Expectations
Commissioners expect providers to evidence balanced decision-making. This includes demonstrating that people have been involved in discussions about risk, understood the rationale for decisions, and had opportunities to express their views.
Inspectors often look for consistency between risk assessments, care plans and what people say about their involvement. Where restrictive practices are used, evidence of consultation and review is particularly important.
Practical Approaches to Co-Production in Safeguarding
Effective approaches include accessible risk discussions, supported decision-making tools, and regular reviews that include the person and those important to them. Providers should ensure that communication methods are adapted and that discussions happen at appropriate times, not only during incidents.
Staff confidence is critical. Teams need support to navigate complex conversations without defaulting to risk-averse or defensive practices.
Governance and Oversight of Restrictive Practices
At organisational level, governance arrangements should monitor how lived experience informs restrictive practice decisions. This may include reviewing themes from incident reviews, involving people in policy development, or seeking feedback on how restrictions are experienced.
Balancing Safety and Autonomy
Co-production helps providers move beyond a binary view of safety versus autonomy. By involving people meaningfully, providers can make better-informed decisions that respect rights, improve trust and support better outcomes.
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