Service user and carers’ views of best practice in student selection at an English University

ABSTRACT

Service users and carers’ (SUACs) inclusion in student selection days at English universities is accepted as standard practice, since such inclusion is mandated by a range of professional health and social work regulators. However, SUACs’ voices are little heard; this study addresses this knowledge gap for the first time. Student selection research was co-produced by a member of an English university’s SUAC group and an academic. A qualitative, semi-structured interviewing approach was undertaken with SUACs (N = 10/14) involved in selection days across social work, nursing, associate nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, paramedicine and physician associate disciplines. Thematic analysis was employed resulting in four main themes-expected contributions of SUACs; perceived: benefits; challenges; and suggestions for areas of improvement. Sub-themes included: perceived benefits and challenges for students, staff and SUACs, respectively. Within these, a rich tapestry demonstrated the ability of SUACs to ‘professionally’ undertake their selection duties by providing realistic insight to candidates into what they might expect working with SUACs, while discerning some candidates’ limitations, for example, emotional strength and personality. Most SUACs thought that their inclusion was valuable and valued, however, they saw much room for improvement in the transparency and logistics of processes; also perceiving and empathising with the challenges faced by academic staff. Greater reintegration into the planning, delivery and decision-making for candidate selection was desired by SUACs, which was perceived to have diminished over time due to a need to increase student numbers. Recommendations are made which may be relevant to other HEIs and professional regulatory organisations.

KEYWORDS:

• Service users and carers
• student selection
• student recruitment
• health and social care

Acknowledgments

Thanks to the SUAC-group and university staff for giving their time to this research and this university’s SUAC-group for funding this study.

Authors’ contributions

Both authors contributed equally to the study design, development, implementation and writing up this research for publication.

Disclosure statement

This is to acknowledge here is no financial interest or benefit has arisen from the direct applications of this research.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Joy M. Rooney

Joy M. Rooney is an Associate Lecturer and member of the IMPACT group of service users and carers. She developed an interest in the service user and carer voice in 2014, pursuing research in this field at the University of Worcester, now co-producing several peer-reviewed articles with Peter Unwin. She had an earlier career as a research scientist in Bristol and Hertfordshire. She also works f/t as a peer support worker in mental health recovery units and as a performance and information analyst in learning disabilities for Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust; she is also privileged to co-produce articles for this Trust in mental health peer support and learning disabilities.

Peter F. Unwin

Peter F. Unwin is a Principal Lecturer in social work at the University of Worcester where he facilitates IMPACT, the university service user and carer group. Peter has particular interests in fostering and adoption and keeps in touch with practice via placement visits, sitting on a regional adoption panel and acting as a Foster Talk advisor. He is also active in the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) as Chair of Worcestershire BASW and member of BASW’s national anti-austerity group.

The inclusion of service users and carers in university life has been a research interest for some years and Peter’s committed to the principles of co-production. He has been involved in two national research projects in partnership with Shaping Our Lives Service User and Disabled Persons’ Network, looking into why there are so few Disabled foster carers and also into how Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities view disability.