Co-Design Facilitators

Facilitators’ involvement in both co-design and competency-based training helped them incorporate stakeholder concerns into training content. Facilitators’ roles as researchers, trainers, or clinical experts could make participants uneasy and inhibit disclosure. Some clinically trained facilitators intervened during labour when patients appeared neglected, mistreated, or in worsening situations, but this risked changing their facilitator position and staff trust. All 10 facilitators involved in leading ALERT co-design activities agreed to participate in the interview study. Facilitators were central to trust-building, rapport, conflict resolution, equal collaboration, and reducing power struggles in co-design. Facilitators often held multiple responsibilities across research, workshops, quality improvement, training, and mentorship.