Delivered in partnership with local charity PSS, our parent-baby co-production group is for parents of children under 5.

We use creative expression to develop skills and confidence, get parents’ voices heard and contribute to the improvement of services for parents and families. We also spend time sharing our experiences and getting to know each other in a safe and welcoming environment.

It’s a relaxed group with low pressure creative activities, discussion, and refreshments. Toys and activities for babies and children too.

Expenses (including travel and childcare) are provided to enable parents to attend conferences and other events where they can get their voices heard.

Sessions are held monthly on a Monday at the PSS offices: Unit 16, Eleanor Rathbone House, 24 Derby Road, Liverpool L5 9PR.

Email joanne@collective-encounters.org.uk to be kept informed of the next date.

The partnership was initiated by the Best for Baby Too collaborative, a partnership of health professionals and community groups working together to provide a holistic approach to supporting mums and mums-to-be, helping them access extra information and support before and after the birth of their child, so that their child has the best possible start in life.

We were invited to get involved in the Collaborative in recognition of our skills in participatory engagement; the Collaborative saw the value of involving parents in developing the very best services and that’s where our approach came in.

PSS Parent-Baby Service has a long history of work to support parents and babies, of championing co-production, and raising awareness about the intrinsic link between poverty and mental distress. Their parent-baby service was behind the development of a short film promoting the importance of the early years. PSS have been key partners in the Best for Baby Too Collaborative.

PSS worked with Collective Encounters to use creativity to develop their parent-baby co-production group and to deliver training in co-production for the members of the Collaborative. Thanks to further funding from Liverpool Children and Families Directorate, Collective Encounters and PSS were able to be part of an engagement project called ‘Families in Action’, which used creativity to understand the needs of seldom heard families and influence the development of Liverpool City Council’s Family Hub service.

The collaboration between PSS and Collective Encounters has enabled parents to develop skills, confidence, and peer support networks. Those participating have contributed to public events and strategic reports, they have gone on to undertake further education and training, accessed volunteering opportunities, and secured paid work as they develop their career ambitions.

More recently they ran a conference on co-production and peer support and how it has the power to transform how people experience mental health and social care services – and how providers deliver them.

Reflecting on their experience of this event, mothers commented:

I found it empowering, it was the first time I have properly spoken to people that don’t know me.
My confidence grew. It was the first time speaking on a mic to a large audience and It felt good doing it.
At first I was just reading word for word and then it felt natural to look up in the faces of the people and just talk.

I liked the inclusion of all the different people and mothers involved.  Everyone got a chance to have a voice. A lot of people who come here didn’t think they’d ever get listened to in their life and we had an opportunity to be listened to.

Having been in care is something that I am happy to talk about so that wasn’t new as I’d already spoken about it at the lord mayor’s event  but I was surprised at how confident I was engaging with people, asking them questions directly and challenging the audience.  A big wave of confidence came over me. I felt really supported. We were all supporting each other.

Co-production means fully involving parents in the design and delivery of their care. Done right, it should lead to services that are more effective, person-centred, better aligned with needs, and ultimately improving outcomes and experiences for those receiving care.

Find out more about our approach to co-production by exploring the resources below.