Reflecting on the Involvement of Peer Researchers in Service Evaluations

ABSTRACT

The involvement of people with lived experience in the design, implementation and evaluation of services has grown significantly in recent years. In parallel, the evidence base for best practice in peer research, as this approach is described, is also expanding. Sharing two practice examples, the authors reflect on key learning emerging from their work with peer researchers. They describe the importance of developing an approach that is well planned, adequately resourced, and flexible, and identify other supports required to ensure peer researchers have a positive experience and can make a meaningful contribution. This article will be of interest to readers wishing to include the authentic voice of service users in research and will be particularly relevant to those involved in commissioning or delivering health and social care research and evaluations focused on services for children and young people.

KEYWORDS:

• Peer researcher
• participatory research
• evaluation
• young people
• care experienced
• separated children

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Dearbhaile Slane

Dearbhaile Slane has a background in social work with children and families. She has direct experience of the complexity and challenges facing organisations delivering services and is passionate about supporting reflective and evidence-informed practice by helping to translate and apply insights from research and evidence. Since joining CES in 2019, Dearbháile has worked across a range of evaluations and research projects that employ participatory approaches to meaningfully involve and capture the perspectives of those using services or those impacted by the research topic.

Alison Montgomery

Alison Montgomery is a senior project specialist in the Centre for Effective Services and holds a Ph.D. in education. She has completed research, evaluation and policy analysis work in a range of areas including education, health and social services. She currently works with statutory, community and voluntary organisations to support their access to and use of knowledge, research and evidence.