Service User Involvement in Higher Education

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Service User Involvement in Higher Education

• What is it?
• Who are they?
• What difference does it make?

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Student Narratives

• I found I have listened to the personal
  experiences and it means so much more than
  reading it in a text book is has kind of
  inspired me.
• The Service Users have come here to University,
  theyve challenged us and before they came here
  they had challenged the professionals and made
  them think, and that is why is it quite amazing.
• I felt quite emotional at times and recognised
  aspects of myself I would like to change.

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Service User Narrative

• I have been heavily involved in a wide range of
  user involvement and campaigning groups and via
  this became involved with Leeds Met. My user
  involvement has vastly contributed to my personal
  and professional understanding of my own health
  problems.

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What have we been doing about Involvement at
Leeds Met?

• Eighteen months ago the Faculty of Health set up
  a Service User and Carer Strategy Group (SUCSG)

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What has the SUCSG done?

• Carried out an audit of involvement across the
  Faculty of Health
• Developed a data base of service users and carers
• Designed and launched a website
  http//www.leedsmet.ac.uk/health/usersandcarers/in
  formation.htm
• Developed a strategy, a payment policy and
  Involvement Benchmarks
• Won an Engagement Bid to run a service user and
  carer led event this December
• Developed links regionally and nationally
• Funded service users to attend conferences and
  events
• Provided training to develop confidence and
  skills for involvement

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Future Challenges for Involvement

• Embedding involvement into the curriculum so that
  it happens as a matter of course
• Involvement costs money so how do we continue to
  develop and support involvement cost effectively?
• Extending involvement out across the community to
  reach those groups and individuals who are not
  easily represented
• Exploring ways in which the principles of
  involvement in health may be relevant for other
  faculties

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