The value of relationships in co-producing & commissioning..

Local authorities are very good at seeing the value of processes. What they are less good at is seeing the value of relationships, yet the entire fabric of the social contract is based on transactional relationships.

1. When older people ask for meals on wheels - do they want food or companionship?
2. When people go to the doctor do they always want a pill, or do they want recognition? 
3. how do service users contribute to the service? do they only walk through the door when there is something wrong?
4. are there enough cracks to allow people to see ways in which they could help?

I think a resurgence of neighbourhood resilience is needed for all of this (separate post about voluntary orgs as the 4th emergency service) but it rests on a basic premise - are networks strong enough to realise this? 

Focusing on where the online and offline world meeting is quite a good metaphor for joining the old world with the new..