Peoplehub is delighted to share that the Spectrum of Participation has been included in the latest publication of Understanding Health and Social Care by Jon Glasby, published by Policy Press on 24th March 2026.
Jon Glasby is Professor of Health and Social Care at the University of Birmingham. This is the fourth edition of this textbook which is seen as “the essential guide for students and practitioners seeking a comprehensive grounding in health and social care. Written by a leading academic in the field, it bridges policy, practice and research to provide a clear understanding of the systems, structures and values underpinning care in the UK.”
The Spectrum features as a full-page image in Chapter 7 – Involvement and Citizenship, where it is contrasted with Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation. The author notes how the Spectrum depicts similar ideas in a non-hierarchical way which sets out different ways of working together to achieve different ends, moving from “doing to” people to “doing with” them.
We created the Spectrum purposefully to be a more useful tool than earlier ladder depictions of co-production. Since its development, it has grown in use and popularity, and this latest recognition of its usefulness is important because it will reach future generations of health and social care practitioners. Hopefully, this will mean that future involvement practices will be clearer, more meaningful and more effective.
Our thanks to Jon Glasby for inclusion in this fourth edition!
May 2026