Assets and Co Production: In Plain English Made here by us Nothing about us, without us, is for us Building the boat not just steering it Working with us, not doing things to or for us On tap not on top Lighting 1000 fires all over the community I have a problem I want help to fix it What can I do?

Assets: Core Principles Every person and community is of value and has something to contribute. The task for policy and delivery is to work with people and communities to identify and build on the assets they have available, helping them to set their goals and aspirations and assisting them to achieve them

Assets Based Working Start with the value & worth of everyone to contribute Support people to take control of their own lives and destiny Focus on building & growing assets & capacity as outcomes & as part of the process Identify & unlock strengths & resources Involve people actively as equal partners in resolving problems & delivering solutions (co production/design) Acknowledge & tackle barriers to participation – personal; structural & cultural Focus on growth, capability Draw on & build social networks and support Work across boundaries to make things work Provide advocacy & support to enable everyone to participate & contribute Enable, facilitate & empower rather than deliver Build trust, networks & cooperation

Assets vs Deficits Assets thinking Strengths based How can we create community spirit? What can I do? We’re all in this together We’re getting there Work with engaged people People have the answers People control their lives Deficit thinking Problem orientated How to fix this problem? Someone needs to sort this Us versus them Problems are embedded Do things to people People are a problem People can’t be trusted to decide/be in control

Assets=Resources=Strengths Financial – money, credit, savings Buildings – schools, church halls, roads Social – kith & kin, community, trust, networks Personal – health & well being, education, experience, skills, motivation, self esteem Natural – environment, energy, natural resources, greenspace Cultural – values, assumptions/stereotypes Political – influence, power Technical – IT, internet, broadband etc Access is not equal, there are barriers beyond individual control

Assets and Resilience Assets approaches build individual and community resilience to thrive & survive: Resilient and independent Engaged and connected Healthy and confidence Mutually supportive and inclusive Influence, autonomy and control Actively promote equality and fairness And so support the National Outcomes and GES

Assets & Prevention This Government is of the view that using these approaches [capacity building and co production] is instrumental if we are to successfully shift the balance of health and social care and develop public services that are focused on prevention and independence Derek Feeley, JIT conference, January 2012

Assets and… We need to make explicit the links with: National Outcomes and NPF Partnerships, SOAs, Change Funds Equalities Inequality, poverty

Assets in communities: some examples Community Development Trusts Life Changes Fund Link Up Project GoWell Edinburgh Re Ablement Scheme Participatory Budgeting Pilots Volunteer Centre Angus NHS Tayside Communities in Control YMCA Community mentoring scheme

Assets-based policies Adult Care Independent living Community empowerment Regeneration Health Improvement Equality Safer communities CfE Climate change Rural Effective Practice Unit Girfec Children & families Equally Well Reshaping Care for Older People Joint Improvement Team Homelessness

Assets and Public Service Reform “Working more closely with individuals and communities to understand their needs and mobilise a wider range of Scotland’s talents and assets in response to these needs, and to support self-reliance and community resilience; tackling fragmentation and complexity” Christie Commission 2011

Drivers of change Wide support for assets based approaches People ‘get assets’ and are inspired Assets approach helps achieve various SG goals Deficit model has failed; it creates failure and waste Assets help balance demand & maintain critical services They make best use of all the resources available Assets help policies work better, especially round deep rooted inequalities To activate and reinvigorate local democracy, control, self reliance Assets complement positive vision for Scotland

Realising the potential of assets approaches Culture shift Effective relationships Sharing power, control, decisions Mutual trust, status and respect Creative, innovative & confident Dispersed leadership – political, community & government Significant resource shift Structures which support - audit, risk; performance etc New skills – coaching, mentoring, networking Learning from practice, evaluation, reflective practice, what works

Making change happen Promote shift to assets thinking & behaviours Develop a shared understanding, clear & consistent message across policies & initiatives Empower & skill workforce and people/communities Support better links, hubs, joining up Support learning and sharing of what works Improve intelligence on whether we are delivering outcomes people & communities want

Possible Actions Clarify SG-wide messages on & support for assets in key areas: Workforce & leadership Support for networks, hubs & links Shared evidence base on what works Identifying what supports & blocks delivery setbasedapproachesinscotlandhttps://knowledgehub.local.gov.uk/group/as setbasedapproachesinscotland

Keep it Real Don’t get lost in theory and jargon This is about people and communities There are examples of assets rich communities and fiery spirits everywhere We know how to do this We want to do it Just do it