Co-Design and Co-Production Worker

To navigate the collaboration between BDEF and Adult Social Care (Bristol City Council), making sure that people with lived expertise lead decisions about the services they rely on, guided by the Co Production Policy and Disability Equality principles. Please see the attachments for full Job Description and Person Specification, including links to definitions and relevant policies.

Co Design and Co Production Worker

Hours: 28 hours per week. Must be flexible and be available for occasional work outside of usual work hours.

Salary: £30,229.28 pro rata (depending on successful completion of the Probationary Period). For the hours, this would work out at £24,183.43 annually. Point 7 on BDEF Pay Policy.

Purpose: To navigate the collaboration between BDEF and Adult Social Care (Bristol City Council), making sure that people with lived expertise lead decisions about the services they rely on, guided by the Co Production Policy and Disability Equality principles.

Reports to: Director of BDEF.

Based at: Chelsea Room, Easton Community Centre, Kilburn Street, Easton, Bristol, BS5 6AW. However, we support flexible working arrangements and hybrid working as we are committed to supporting our workers to meet their needs. If this is relevant for you, this can be discussed.

Contract: This is a fixed term contract until March 2029.

Access: We are a Disabled people led organisation. This role is for Disabled people to apply for. As such, support to make reasonable adjustments and/or support to apply for Access to Work will be embedded from the start of working with us.

As an organisation, we also use Social Model Identity First language such as Disabled people and impairments or health conditions .

We know there are Disabled applicants who will have faced many barriers in developing their careers. When you read the job description and person specification, think about your potential to meet the requirements.

If there are items on the person specification where you feel you don't strictly meet the skills or experience listed but you already have strategies, support, or technology to meet these skills in a way that works for you (or you feel with the right support you could excel at) then please apply.

Co-Design and Co-Production

BDEF s Director previously supported Bristol City Council Adult Social Care to create a Co production Policy. This policy was developed because there was no clear, fair, or consistent way for the Council to involve people with lived experience of using Adult Social Care services.

The policy:

• Is designed through co-production between Disabled people, Carers, Community and Voluntary Sector workers and council officers.
• Clearly defines consultation, engagement, co design and co production.
• Sets expectations for inclusive, equitable involvement.
• Has been fully adopted and approved by Adult Social Care.
• Is intended to guide all future Adult Social Care work.

Following feedback, Bristol City Council has now contracted BDEF, a Disabled people led organisation, to take this work forward. This, as part of this contract, role will focus on supporting, embedding and putting the policy into practice, ensuring that people with lived expertise are meaningfully involved in shaping Adult Social Care services.

The role will work closely with people with lived expertise of Adult Social Care services (Disabled people and carers among others), Bristol City Council Adult Social Care officers, community and voluntary organisations and BDEF colleagues. The role holder will work directly with BDEF Director who will offer advice and support.

The main duties will include:

1. Planning and delivering agreed co design and co production projects (up to three per year, or fewer larger projects). This will involve working jointly with the Council and people with lived expertise throughout each project. There will be a need to make sure that projects follow the Co production Policy.

2. Facilitating quarterly sessions of the Co production Policy Advisory Group who are the people who helped create this policy. Their remit is to offer advice to council officers on how best to use the Co-Production policy within their work.

3. Building and maintaining relationships between community members, the Co-Production Policy Advisory Group, community and voluntary organisations, Adult Social Care at Bristol City Council, and BDEF (Bristol Disability Equality Forum).

4. Supporting Disabled people and others with lived expertise to take part fully and confidently and help people to understand their role and how their input influences decisions. This will also mean identifying and connect with new people with lived experience who want to be involved.

5. Making sure that all projects involve people with a diverse range of experiences, identities and cultures and who are representative of Bristol s communities.

6. Monitoring progress and report impact, tracking the progress of co-design and co-production work. This would include producing clear, accessible reports at the end of each project.

7. Where possible and appropriate, support Council officers to work in a co productive way. This would include promote correct usage of co production language and definitions.

8. To make sure that the right range of support available is accessible and that people with the widest range of impairments and differences are included.

9. To implement BDEF s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy and to develop and share anti-discriminatory practice and to challenge any systemic oppression, discrimination, prejudice and stereotyping amongst Disabled people and in other organisations.

10.To work within BDEF s safeguarding policies and to develop best practice in safeguarding and supporting adults at risk.

Any other tasks corresponding with the post, as required. Whilst this summary is detailed, it does not necessarily specify every task or activity required to achieve these outcomes.

General Accountabilities:

So far as reasonably practicable, the post-holder must promote safe working practices with regard to both themselves, volunteers and anyone else in the office or at meetings.

Work within the Codes of Conduct, Constitution and all other policies of BDEF.

Make sure that output and outcomes (quality of work) are of a high standard and comply with current standards.

Undertake any other duties, determined by the Director and trustees, as required.

Context:

BDEF is a voluntary sector charity of, and for, all Disabled people who live, work or study in the Bristol area. It seeks to engage with Disabled people in the Bristol area in identifying and addressing equalities issues of concern to both our existing and potential members.

Deadline:

Please return the application (in whatever form you choose) by 5pm on Tuesday 24th March 2026.