Service users and carers in health and social care research: Developing a training package coproductively

2012 Conference

Abstract: The paper will outline the development of the training programme by the RD Forum service user and carer working group. It will detail how service users and carers worked co-productively with other members of the working group to develop a comprehensive package of training developed by service users and carers for service users and carers. The presentation will outline how service users and carers drew on their own experience of involvement in evaluation and research to develop the training programme.

The presentation will provide an overview of the modules within the training programme, its aims and outcomes, and describe how it was developed through an iterative process. The presenters will describe how they kept a focus on the service user and carer perspective, as the people at the heart of research, within the training programme. They will also describe their own experience of being part of the development process and outline the learning from working in this way.

We hope that people will learn about the processes of co-producing a project, the benefits and the difficulties that can arise and how to overcome those issues. The issues raised for discussion will be working in partnership, co-producing projects, support and resources for service users and carers.