Not Desperate, but Disparate – developing New Partnerships with Service Users and Carers in Social Work Education and making Involvement Sustainable. Joy Fillingham & Hiran Patel Institute of Applied Social Studies University of Birmingham

Aim To explore some of the practical implications of developing a cohesive strategy for Service User and Carer Involvement. 2

Contents History Initial Processes Cohesive Strategy – Transparency and Parity Database Current Involvement Keeping Informed Challenges Future Plans 3

History of Involvement within Social Work Programmes Long term Involvement – (since 1990) Tended to be ad hoc When new degree 2004 there was DH requirement for involvement in ALL aspects Since new degree small group grew organically from people through snowball effect. One proactive move to main Service User and Carer reference group in Birmingham City Council in All above characterised by lots of enthusiasm, good will and attempts to be ‘fair’ but no standard procedures of way of capturing information on interests, skills, etc Commitment from Dept so used teaching money to fund my post. 4

Initial Process Pulling together the strands, identifying what was there Listening before acting Liaising with staff, service users, carers and students Recognising existing strengths and omissions 5

Cohesive strategy – Transparency and Parity Consistency amount of payment Information of what’s available, options Training When selecting, clear reasoning behind it Practical considerations ◦ E.g. additional costs for some users, ◦ Early mornings for some service users and carer 6

Database With permission Self-definition describes in own words Open questions Interests Training undertaken Length and areas of involvement Future wishes for involvement Can cost modules or people (useful for funding bids) 7

Current Involvement Numbers 38 active another 18 Informed Teaching Small group Large group teaching ◦ alone ◦ as a team ◦ alongside academics ◦ with practitioners Question time panels Case studies Show and tell 8 Admissions Fitness to Practice Portfolio Assessment Group Presentation Evaluations Change of Programmes Review Process

Keeping informed Reviews Newsletters s Phone calls Programme change Variety of formats 9

Challenges Benefit system - smaller groups other options may be possible Vision for broadest range of inclusion - capturing range of experiences Skills for who / professional-isation? Expectations Open to all? Appropriate Support around health issues 10

Future Plans Digital stories Consultancy Webct – link to external resources and Access Targeted PQ Involvement Identity & voice Handbook Addressing Tokenism Accreditation / Recognition Mapping forward wider involvement Ensuring adequate support mechanisms for widening involvement for people with specific needs Networking involvement throughout the University 11

Hiran Patel, working with Joy Fillingham Service User and Carer Co-ordinator Social Work Programmes Institute of Applied Social Studies University of Birmingham 12