Experts by Experience XbX OUR LIVES, YOUR LEARNING

Our lives – your learning Who are we? People who use services – directly or as carers Representatives of groups and organisations for service users Social Work students Social Work academics

Our lives – your learning What do we do? We meet regularly to think about and plan how we can help social work students be the kind of workers we know we need. We help them to learn and assess that learning alongside the academics.

Our lives – your learning We get involved in assessing students ‘readiness for placement’. We listen to and help to assess their presentations on a range of topics. We help to review their Portfolios, especially the parts which show how they understand service users’ lives.

Our lives – your learning Examples of how people have been involved Interviewing - Martin –“I played a part in helping to decide how experts by experience should be involved in interviewing students. I now take part in assessing students’ group discussion, looking at their communication, body language and how they relate to others”. Teaching - Sid –“I have taught alongside the academic tutors on the Poverty and Social Exclusion module, helping students to understand how disabled people can be marginalised and excluded by society”

Our lives – your learning Preparation for placement –Martin –“I am part of a group which assesses students’ role plays of practice situations, looking at how well they understand things like confidentiality and the role of a social worker”. Assessment – Sid –“I have helped to assess the students’ group discussion on the Ethics and Values module. I know that my feedback is taken very seriously by the tutors and students and contributes to the grade they get for their work”.

Our lives – your learning Portfolios – Prunella –“I have been part of a group that reviews students’ placement Portfolios. Sometimes this feels like a very big responsibility but I know that with support I have an important role to play”.

Our lives – your learning The Centre for the Development of Social Care Practice is committed to providing student support to the XbX group as part of a Practice Learning Opportunity The role of the student on placement includes supporting the XbX group and individual members, helping to build capacity and acting as a bridge between the Social Work programme and the XbX group.

Our lives – your learning Barriers to involvement Payment – benefit rules – fitness to work The government gives the University money to help people who use services to get involved. Other parts of the Government won’t let us earn money for our involvement because of the benefit rules. Transport and support issues for people include getting to the university and their support needs when they are there to be able to participate fully.

Our lives – your learning W hat’s in it for me? “Years ago, people wouldn’t even listen to me for free, now they are paying me to talk to them” (Martin) “My involvement allows me to get across my ‘political’ views and help students understand the social model of disability” (Sid) “Being involved in XbX has reminded me that I am a human being. I feel valued, not invalid” (Raquel)

Our lives – your learning Plans for further research We now want to find out how we are making a difference What do social work students really think about our involvement? Have we made a difference to the way they will be as practitioners? Will it make a difference to all our lives?