Introduction

Are you a Service User or Carer or are you an organisation representing one of these groups?

Ever wondered or even wished there was a way in which you could help to improve service provision? Service Users, Carers, associated representatives and organisations can be a part of the mechanism to bring about change. There are things you can do and be involved in by proactive participation.

Your experience, ideas, skills and the person this makes you are valuable as you have the qualities needed to help steer the continuing evolution of the University Of Wolverhampton's Social Work degree programmes.

Service Users and Carers and their representative organisations can help develop the Social Workers of tomorrow.

The Social Work Service User and Carer Involvement Hub Group

Instigated in 2009, the Social Work Service User and Carer (SW SUCI) Hub Group is now one spoke of the coordinating Service User and Carer Strategy Hub Group for the Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing. Find out more about about the overarching strategy and the SUCCESS group of service users and carers. The SW SUCI Hub Group is made up of SUCCESS members, Service Users, Carers, representatives of Service User and Carer groups and university staff, who co-ordinate and review involvement within different key areas (spokes) of involvement. 

The key areas include:

1. Admissions
2. Induction
3. Course design
4. Contribution to teaching and assessment
5. Assessment of practice
6. Quality Control

Scope of membership

Membership of the SW SUCI Hub group aims to be representative of the local authorities of our key partners (Walsall, Wolverhampton, Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire) and of service sector (older people, physical disabilities, learning disabilities, sensory disabilities, mental health issues, educational issues and children's services, including children and young people with experience of being in care or leaving care).

The SW SU/C Hub group aims to have a minimum of 4 SU/C representatives, either from a SU/C organisation or individual SU/Cs who are not members of an organisation. Key members of staff and coordinators are also part of the SW SUCI Hub group.

Committee membership is reviewed biannually to ensure it continues to reflect the  full spectrum of Service Users and Carers, including those voices that are seldom heard.

Currently under-represented groups: 

• Parents/carers of children with disabilities

Aims and objectives

• The aim of the SW SUCI Hub group is to contribute to improving the quality of life of Service Users and Carers, by being engaged in developing and monitoring the processes by which Service Users and Carers are included at all levels of the University of Wolverhampton’s social work programmes.

Membership is specifically sought from the Shropshire area which is currently under-represented. If you are interested please contact Anne Wright, Senior Lecturer in Social Work.

Format and frequency

The SW SUCI meetings occur 2 to 3 times a year and each meeting doesn't extend beyond two and half hours with the first half an hour allocated to travel cost reimbursements and refreshments.

How to get involved?

If you would like to play a key part in helping develop the Social Workers of tomorrow or if you would like further details about any aspect of Service User participation across the Social Work degree programmes please contact Anne Wright or Rupy Pandaal.

Downloads and resources

Service User Carer group terms of reference (Word doc 39k)

A note of dedication

Members of the Social Work Service User and Carer Involvement Hub are extremely grateful to Paul Walters, our permitted work employee e-Publicity Officer, for his dedication and commitment to ensuring the development of these web information pages for Service User and Carer Involvement in Social Work. The first inception of the Social Work Service User and Carer webpages was initiated by Paul as a Service User and his ideas, vision and tireless efforts in ensuring this project came to fruition represent a unique dimension to service user and carer participation in the University.

Admissions

Service User and Carer participation is a vital element of the University of Wolverhampton's admissions procedures for the BA and MA Social Work degree programmes. Service Users and Carers play a key part at the admissions interview stage and facilitate selection of the most suitable candidates for the University of Wolverhampton's BA and MA Social Work degree programmes.

Interview panel participants are required to attend a short period of free training. All Service User and Carer Training is provided. For more details please contact either Anne Wright or Rupy Pandaal.