‘Walk a few miles in somebody else’s shoes’

1. ‘Walk a few miles in somebody else’s shoes’ Involving people who use social care services and their carers in social work training at Luton University JSWEC Conference – July 2005

2. Conference theme: ‘Challenging Service Userism in Learning, Practice and Research’ A summary of the methods developed by David Thomas and Annie Lawton together with people who use services and carers

3. Four areas of work….. • Interviewing students to come on the course • Teaching students • Assessing to see how students are doing • Being part of a group to managethe work

4. Where did we start? • Involve a good mix of people • Involve people from the start – not an ‘add on’ • Involvement should have meaning • Think about the support people need • Be prepared to do things differently

5. Involve a good mix of people People with a learning disability The elderly People using mental health services Children with disabilities Children and families (including foster carers) Adults with physical disabilities Social work students

6. Involve people from the start We listened to lots of different people who use services and their carers. We asked them: • What makes a good social worker? • What should they do? • What do they need to learn to do this?

7. They all agreed 6 skills: • Communication • Managing their time and workload • Problem solving • Learning from experience • Focussing on the client • Understanding how all the different parts of a person’s life can affect them

8. Involvement should have meaning Did these skills match the things that social work students would be taught and assessed on at university? Do they fit with the ‘key roles’ that social work students have to learn about?

9. ‘Key Roles’ • Key Role 1 Prepare for, and work with individuals, families, carers, groups and communities to assess their needs and circumstances • Key Role 2 Plan, carry out, review and evaluate social work practice, with individuals, families, carers, groups, communities and other professionals • Key Role 3 Support individuals to represent their needs, views and circumstances

10. Key Role 4 Manage risk to individuals, families, carers, groups, communities, self and colleagues • Key Role 5 Manage and be accountable, with supervision and support, for your own social work practice within your organisation • Key Role 6Demonstrate professional competence in social work practice

11. Think about support Support needs to be built in from the start: • Someone to contact • Transport • Information • Child care / carer support • Meetings – where and when? • Payment and expenses

12. Do things differently • Teaching doesn’t have to be in the university • Interviews don’t have to be formal • Assessment sheets can have pictures on • Drumming can teach you a lot about yourself!

13. People wear lots of different shoes! Social work student who is a carer for his Mum Social worker who uses social care services Care home resident who used to be an occupational therapist

14. What about you? • How many different ‘pairs of shoes’ do you wear?

15. Summary • We have started the work • We are all learning a lot • There is still a long way to go But ‘walking in someone else’s shoes’ helps you to understand what their life is like and learn how to work together.

16. Thank you! Any questions?