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The importance of actively involving users of welfare services in research has increasingly gained ground in both public policy documents and the academic literature. User involvement is increasingly considered a precondition to obtain external funding for research projects. The discussion about service user involvement in research should primarily be transformed into a debate about forms of collaboration and how user involvement and co -research could be implemented in ways where both researchers and users could benefit and further improve the development of welfare services.
Involving service users in social work education raises questions related to relations of power and inequality. It raises questions about which agents who possess the right to take part in the creation of knowledge within social work education and on which terms.
From our perspective service user involvement in social work education requires, that the competences and knowledge that service users hold is recognized as important as the academic knowledge presented by teachers by the institution. We are working to create spaces where the knowledge held by service users is applied in the education and is recognized and valued. Thereby we are also working to empower service users.
Mend the Gap is an established approach for working in partnership with people in communities who often feel most excluded from services and support. In this session we will share our experiences of working in partnership with adults who have no recourse to public funds in the UK and no rights to employment. We will also be sharing experiences of working in partnership with young unaccompanied young people and together, critically explore the effectiveness of this approach by placing focus on changed outcomes and the impact of people power.
Integrating Experiential Knowledge in Social Work Education and Research: A Necessary and Challenging Innovation Date – 12 May Speaker – Jean Pierre Wilken, Utrecht University of Applied Science, The Netherlands.
The Future of Social Care – From Problem to a Rights Based Sustainable Solution The session will focus on what a rights based future for social work in social care might look like and how it is to be achieved, particularly in the context of disabled and older people.The issue of intersectionality and the increasingly recognised role and significance of lived or living experience in taking this forward.
Join our thought-provoking webinar, “A Critical Reflection on the Professionalization of Experiential Experts.” This delved into the evolving role of individuals with lived experiences in the field of social work. As these experiential experts transition from service recipients to professional collaborators, we will examine the challenges and opportunities that arise.
Our panel of esteemed speakers discussed the importance of validating and integrating experiential knowledge within professional practice, the impact on service delivery, and the ethical considerations involved.
Participation and empowerment are considered to be the key drivers for social innovation and social change. It helps elicit the experiences, views, aspirations and struggles of communities at the grassroots. This presentation critically unpacks the same, especially in the context of poor and marginalized communities in India.
This session explores the crucial role of service user involvement in the Housing First model, which prioritizes providing permanent housing to individuals experiencing homelessness without preconditions.
Discussions were around how incorporating the voices and experiences of service users can enhance program effectiveness, foster empowerment, and improve outcomes. Experts in the field shared best practices, case studies, and strategies for meaningful participation, highlighting the often-overlooked contributions of those directly impacted by homelessness.
This webinar is an invaluable opportunity for practitioners, policymakers, and advocates to understand the transformative potential of service user participation.
Open University Lived Experience Group, London, UK
In this session the speakers spoke about the importance of engaging people with lived experiences of social work support and services in social work education, the challenges and benefits.
Very excited to be one of the recipients of the IASSW International Project which allowed me to have a great network and do impactful research. Being a member of this large professional network allowed me to update and contribute to the profession in many ways.
IASSW helps social work faculty worldwide to keep abreast of international social work education developments
and provides faculty with multiple ways to get involved in cross national education and research initiatives and funding opportunities.
