Page 23 - WCEN Dr Rochelle Burgess evaluation report\ Baloon

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Theoretical Framework:
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Theoretical Framework::
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Rethinking social change
R R e t h i n k i n g s o c i a l c h a n g e
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Rethinking social changee
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t t h r o u g h c o p r o d u c t i o n
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through coproductionn
through coproduction

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Figure 2 above presents a theoretical model of the WCEN approach to coproduction. The model
highlights the ‘lived reality’ of coproduction, which is achieved across three phases. Phase 0, or the
preparatory stage defined in the previous section, is driven by a series of psychosocial resources in
particular, bonding, linking and bridging forms of social capital. With these resources, strong foundation-
al relationships within groups and across sectors were developed, resulting in the creation of a
new-shared space: a collective where both statutory bodies and community groups identify as members.
The presence of this phase differentiates WCEN from other models of coproduction, as it explicitly
recognises and engages with issues of power, position and resources and their potential influence on
the ability for professionals and communities to engage in mutually beneficial forms of participation.
As alluded to earlier, the coproduction process is initiated through initial engagements lead by the
WCEN director. Within a series of targeted engagements at both statutory and community levels, the
director utilises bonding social capital in order to establish trust and a common vision with each side of
the coproduction coin. Bonding social capital is defined as close-knit ties within communities that help
to facilitate access to key structural and symbolic resources (Putnam, 2000). Development of trust is
critical in order to bring both groups of actors into a shared space for the purposes of coproduction; a
process similar to inter-organisational work where the importance of trust is well established (Vanneste,
2016).
In the community context, bonds are achieved through ongoing physical presence in communities –
which are significant displays of a willingness to engage that helps to foster trust. As noted by one
community member about a previous staff member of WCEN:
He comes to NTA loads, he’s always at services and so on, but he integrates himself really well.
And he also had, K.... in the early days Ks role was really significant she and there were lots of
times where, as he would describe it, she would be just going along, being paid to go along and
have tea,
Once strong bonds were established with statutory partners, ongoing commitments were ensured through
establishing financial ties to the work of the network and its organisations. Much needed economic
resources by way of small pots of funding that bypassed more complicated mechanisms of monitoring
were contributed by statutory partners. Utilising funding of this nature also allowed for a certain flexibility
for how funds could be spent – in particular the development of ventures that were not supported by the
right types of ‘evidence’.
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