Abstract
Patient and service user involvement in developing and delivering care has become part of every day practice. Over the last six years the NHS Leadership Academy has built an evidence base for how involving patients in leadership development positively influences the perception of healthcare leaders and in turn delivery of services. Through initiatives such as reciprocal mentoring, recruitment and selection training and storytelling, it has been possible to show that leaders think and behave differently as a direct result of their experiences. Initially evidence centred on the perspective of leaders but has now encompassed the extent to which patients, carers and service users themselves gain skills from the very act of involvement which has then been shown to support and enhance other areas of their life including a route back into employment. This seminar focused on understanding the nature of developing transferable skills through co-production and what is required in order to facilitate this successfully for mutual benefit.