Facilitating an evolving service user involvement group for people with dementia: what can we learn?

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jocelyne Kenny ◽  
Ian Asquith ◽  
Reinhard Guss ◽  
Elizabeth Field ◽  
Lewis Slade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Service User ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
User Involvement ◽  
Clinical Psychologists ◽  
Service User Involvement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Diagnosis Of Dementia

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how service user involvement for people living with a diagnosis of dementia can contribute to innovate ways of training and educating a skilled healthcare workforce. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses a case study approach, including interviews observations and reflections from facilitators and members of a service user group for people living with dementia in a recovery-based older adult service in East Kent, UK. In total, 11 people were involved in this study: five people are living with a diagnosis of dementia, two are clinical psychologists, two are trainee clinical psychologists and two are placement year psychology undergraduates. Findings – The paper shows how service user involvement groups can enable people with dementia to train a wide range of healthcare professionals in different areas, from the perspective of people living with dementia and healthcare professionals. It also reflects on the challenges that can arise through working with patients in a more collegiate way. Originality/value – This paper demonstrates that people with dementia can be involved in the training of healthcare professionals in innovative ways. It therefore suggests new ways of working with people with dementia to develop staff skills.

Tame clients: an evaluation of service users’ and trainee clinical psychologists’ perspective of service user involvement in teaching

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 327-338
Author(s):  
Carl Norwood ◽  
Anna Tickle ◽  
Danielle De Boos ◽  
Roberta Dewa
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Psychology ◽  
Service User ◽  
User Involvement ◽  
Clinical Psychologists ◽  
Psychology Training ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Service User Involvement ◽  
Clinical Psychology Training ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Competency Frameworks

Purpose The involvement of service users within clinical psychology training is written into policy. However, the practice of evaluating involvement from both trainees’ and service users’ viewpoint is minimal. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate recent service user involvement in psychometrics and formulation teaching on a clinical psychology training programme, from both service user and trainee perspectives. Design/methodology/approach Focus groups were held with service users (n=3) involved in the teaching, as well as trainees (n=3). Additional questionnaire data were captured from trainees (n=11). Service user and trainee data were analysed separately using thematic analysis. Themes generated for trainees were also mapped on to a competency framework for clinical psychologists. Findings Both parties found the teaching beneficial. Service users enjoyed supporting trainees and engaged positively in their roles. They identified relational aspects and reflections on their own therapy as other benefits. Trainees reported enhanced clinical preparedness, critical and personal reflection. Trainee anxiety was evident. Learning mapped well to competency frameworks. Research limitations/implications The samples were small and some data truncated. Findings speak to broader issues and may transfer to other involvement contexts. Practical implications A good degree of meaningful involvement can be achieved through such initiatives, to mutual benefit and enhanced learning. Originality/value Nature of the exercise and dual-aspect approach to evaluation described here helps to minimise tokenism. The mapping of findings to competency frameworks supports evaluative processes and helps to legitimise involvement initiatives that challenge the boundaries of existing practice.

scholarly journals Professionals’ views on children’s service user involvement

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Kiili ◽  
Maritta Itäpuisto ◽  
Johanna Moilanen ◽  
Anu-Riina Svenlin ◽  
Kaisa Eveliina Malinen
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Service User ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
User Involvement ◽  
Intergenerational Relations ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Service User Involvement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Care Services

Purpose Children are gradually attaining recognition as service users and their involvement in service development has been advanced in recent years. This study draws on empirical research in social and health-care services designed for children and families. The purpose of this paper is to analyse how professionals understand children’s involvement as experts by experience. The focus is on professionals’ views and intergenerational relations. Design/methodology/approach The research data comprise 25 individual and 10 group interviews with managers and professionals working in social and health-care services in one Finnish province. The data were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis. Findings The professionals recognised the value of children’s service user involvement. However, they concentrated more on the challenges than the possibilities it presents. Health-care professionals emphasised parental needs and children’s vulnerability. In turn, the professionals from social services and child welfare non-governmental organisations perceived children as partners, although with reservations, as they discussed ethical issues widely and foregrounded the responsibilities of adults in protecting children. In general, the professionals in both domains saw themselves as having ethical responsibility to support children’s service user involvement while at the same time setting limits to it. Originality/value This study confirmed the importance of taking intergenerational relations into account when developing children’s service user involvement. The results indicate that professionals also need to reflect on the ethical challenges with children themselves as, largely owing to the generational position of children as minors, they rarely perceive them as partners in ethical reflection.

scholarly journals Service user involvement in cognitive behavioural therapy training: an interpretive phenomenological analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 186-198
Author(s):  
Peter Thomas Garwood ◽  
Alexander Hassett
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Service User ◽  
Training Session ◽  
User Involvement ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Service User Involvement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural

Purpose The last two decades have seen an increase in service user involvement (SUI) in the training of Mental Health Professionals (MHP). There is developing empirical support for SUI in MHP training, however, there is no published research into SUI in the training of Cognitive Behavioural Therapists. The purpose of this paper is to explore cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) trainees’ experience of SUI in their training. The study focuses on how an individual service user (SU) led training session is experienced and how this differs to routine CBT training. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six participants. Transcripts of the interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings Data revealed three superordinate themes: first, predisposing influences on learning; second, factors associated with emotional processing of experience; and third, impact upon learning outcomes. The results suggest that participants’ appraisal of their learning from SUI maybe influenced by how they accommodate the emotional impact of the experience. Originality/value The paper makes recommendations for educators on courses involving service users (SUs), acknowledges the study’s methodological limitations and suggests areas for future research.

scholarly journals Psychiatric drugs: reconsidering their mode of action and the implications for service user involvement

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Marc Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Service User ◽  
User Involvement ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Service User Involvement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Psychiatric Drugs

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine two competing pharmacological models that have been used to understand how psychiatric drugs work: the disease-centred model and the drug-centred model. In addition, it explores the implications of these two models for mental health service users and the degree to which they are meaningfully involved in decisions about the use of psychiatric drugs. Design/methodology/approach The approach is a conceptual review and critical comparison of two pharmacological models used to understand the mode of action of psychiatric drugs. On the basis of this analysis, the paper also provides a critical examination, supported by the available literature, of the implications of these two models for service user involvement in mental health care. Findings The disease-centred model is associated with a tendency to view the use of psychiatric drugs as a technical matter that is to be determined by mental health professionals. In contrast, the drug-centred model emphasises the centrality of the individual experience of taking a psychiatric drug and implies a more equitable relationship between practitioners and mental health service users. Originality/value Although infrequently articulated, assumptions about how psychiatric drugs work have important consequences for service user involvement in mental health care. Critical consideration of these assumptions is an important aspect of seeking to maximise service user involvement in decisions about the use of psychiatric drugs as a response to their experience of mental distress.

scholarly journals Aims for service user involvement in mental health training: staying human

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 208-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Lea ◽  
Sue Holttum ◽  
Anne Cooke ◽  
Linda Riley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Service User ◽  
User Involvement ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Mental Health Training ◽  
Service User Involvement ◽  
Health Training ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of service user involvement in mental health training but little is known about what staff, trainees and service users themselves want to achieve. Design/methodology/approach Three separate focus groups were held with service users, training staff and trainees associated with a clinical psychology training programme. Thematic analysis was used to identify aims for involvement. Findings All groups wanted to ensure that future professionals “remained human” in the way they relate to people who use services. Service user and carer involvement was seen as a way of achieving this and mitigating the problem of “them and us thinking”. The authors found that groups had some aims in common and others that were unique. Service users highlighted the aim of achieving equality with mental health professionals as an outcome of their involvement in teaching. Research limitations/implications The samples were small and from one programme. Practical implications Common aims can be highlighted to foster collaborative working. However, the findings suggest that service users and carers, staff and trainees may also have different priorities for learning. These need to be recognised and addressed by mental health educators. Originality/value This was the first study to explore in depth the differing aims of different stakeholder groups for service user involvement. Clarification of aims is a vital first step in developing any future measure of the impact of service user involvement on mental health practice.

Overcoming challenges in service user involvement in an older people’s mental health service

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-155
Author(s):  
Sophie Smith ◽  
Maria Abbas ◽  
Ariane Zegarra
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Service User ◽  
User Involvement ◽  
Service Improvement ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Service User Involvement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Group Members

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe how an older people’s mental health service involves service users in research and service improvement projects, the value of this work and the ways in which barriers to user-led research have been approached and handled. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a reflective review of their experiences of running “ResearchNet”, a group aimed at putting service users’ perspectives at the heart of service improvement projects, which benefits from and develops its members’ related skills. The authors explore overcoming barriers to service user involvement in research. Findings This paper identified the following key elements that enabled ResearchNet to overcome barriers which might be found in service user–led research: recruitment processes; identifying research projects; building confidence, sustaining motivation and overcoming setbacks; developing service user’s research skills; keeping multiple views in mind; involving people with dementia; being responsive to group members’ needs; and keeping the group safe. Practical implications Oxleas National Health Service is currently looking at integrating with the quality improvement team to provide further structure and training to group members. Originality/value This paper explores an under-represented area of research – service user inclusion in older adult mental health research and service improvement. It provides much needed clinical implications for clinicians seeking to increase clients’ involvement in research and service development projects.

scholarly journals Service user involvement in an undergraduate nursing programme

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 125-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleanor Jack
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Service User ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
User Involvement ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Service User Involvement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
User Input

Purpose The purpose of this study is to highlight the impacts that service user involvement can have on the education of UK undergraduate student mental health nurses both personally and professionally. It reports the findings from a short module evaluation of a collaboratively delivered theory unit using a qualitative approach. Design/methodology/approach The study reports the findings from a short module evaluation of a collaboratively delivered theory unit using a qualitative approach embracing two focus groups. Findings The findings from the two focus groups highlight that the service user input (expert by experience) offered a positive learning experience for the students, enabled them to appreciate the meaning of recovery and hope and facilitated the identification of the importance of their role in terms of connecting meaningfully with those they are supporting and reconsidering key priorities for practice. They also suggest that there is theory/practice gap reduction as students were able to connect the service user narratives to the evidence base for deeper understanding and application. Research limitations/implications Although only a brief evaluation of a short theory module within a wider programme involving a small number of participants, the findings echo the wider literature and offers further rationale to support direct service user involvement within mental health education across all healthcare professions. This finding is also relevant, as, increasingly, learning/teaching programmes now seek to implement blended learning with significant online teaching and less face-to-face facilitation of learning. Practical implications This study highlights not only the positive impact of service user input on health-care education but also the benevolent influence skilled narratives can have as a pedagogical approach to learning. Originality/value Although there is much in the literature as to the benefits for student learning in involving service users within higher education institute education, there is limited information as to “how” and “why” this is the case, this article seeks to bridge that gap.

Improving mental health in later life: the role of service user involvement

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-188
Author(s):  
David Crepaz-Keay
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Service User ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
User Involvement ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Service User Involvement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Active Involvement ◽  
Potential Contributor ◽  
Key Issues

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe service user involvement, explain some of the key issues that define, affect or protect mental health in later life and show how involvement may contribute to better mental health in later life. Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews existing definitions of involvement and mental health in later life; provides a more detailed review of some examples of involvement at a range of levels and illustrates how these could have a positive impact on mental health. Findings Active involvement and engagement at all levels offers significant opportunities for older people to protect and improve their own mental health and the mental health of society as a whole. Research limitations/implications This research does not set out to promote any particular intervention or involvement technique. The examples given have been evaluated in a variety of ways. Practical implications Service user involvement should be considered as an important potential contributor to mental health in later life. Social implications The paper encourages people in later life to be considered as a community resource rather than a problem that needs to be solved. Originality/value This paper brings together existing research with a focus on the relationship between involvement and individual and collective mental health.

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