A stronger voice.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this paper is to discuss learning about service-user and carer involvement from an action research (AR) study into self-directed support implementation in one English mental health trust. The paper promotes appointing and supporting carers and people with experience as co-researchers to obtain authentic local perspectives when undertaking service implementation or redesign.


METHODS
The researchers used an AR spiral method incorporating carers and people with mental health experience as co-researchers. The co-researchers worked alongside the lead researcher gathering data from focus groups, training sessions and other meetings over four years and attending collaborative steering group meetings alongside professional workers throughout the study.


RESULTS
The authors suggest that participation gave co-researchers a powerful and effective voice in this service redesign. This approach revealed more authentic research data and required professionals to be more accountable for their perceptions and to make explicit their understandings throughout the study, which enabled more effective working. Steering group participation was central to securing this participation.


CONCLUSIONS
The paper illustrates how carer and service-user co-researchers can be supported to benefit both mental health organisations undergoing change and to co-researchers themselves. It also identifies AR's utility in uncovering learning as well as structuring change.
Department of Planning and Development, Devon Partnership Trust, Exeter, UK.
Sherrie Anne
SA
Hitchen
Graham R
GR
Williamson
D017028:Caregivers; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010358:Patient Participation; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom
Empowerment; Organizational change; Organizational learning; User involvement