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

‘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

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

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 manage the work

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

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

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?

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

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?

‘Key Roles’

• Key Role 1Prepare for, and work with individuals, families, carers, groups and communities to assess their needs and circumstances

• Key Role 2Plan, 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

• Key Role 4Manage 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 6 Demonstrate professional competence in social work practice

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

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!

People wear lots of different shoes!

Social work student who is a carer for his MumCare home resident

who used to be an occupational therapist

Social worker who uses social care services

What about you?

• How many different ‘pairs of shoes’ do you wear?

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.

Thank you!

Any questions?