User controlled research: building together on what we know and exploring next steps

2006 Conference

Late in 2005, INVOLVE published the first national review of User Controlled Research (undertaken by the presenters). Produced from a service user perspective, it offered information about the definition, strengths and weaknesses of user controlled research. As well as making clearer what it is and what it can offer, however, it also highlighted concerns about the future of user controlled research and difficulties that it faces.

The project involved service users. The aim of this workshop is to open up and take forward discussion, involving people from a wider range of perspectives, in a safe environment. Through group discussion it will seek to enable people to contribute the lessons from their own experience as well as learning from the new knowledge that we now have.

Reporting briefly on key findings from the review, the session will open up discussion of issues and questions for the future to be explored through the perspectives of mainstream researchers, managers, practitioners, policy makers, research commissioners, academics, etc, to add to what we have already learned from service users.

It will consider how user controlled research’s weaknesses may be addressed; how it can make its most helpful contribution and what might be helpful next steps