Description:
During recent decades a strong interest has grown in actively involving service users in social work education, research and policy development. Drawing on a major European Social Fund project, this book presents an overview of inspiring collaborative models that have proven their efficacy and sustainability. Contributions from service users, lecturers and researchers from across Europe provide detailed case studies of good practice, exploring the value framework behind the model and considering their added value from a user, teacher and student perspective.
The book concludes with a series of reflective chapters, considering key issues and ethical dilemmas.
Brief description: Kristel Driessens is professor of Social Work at the University of Antwerp and Head of the Centre of Expertise Strength-Based Social Work of the Karel de Grote University of Applied Sciences. She is coordinator of Bind-Kracht, a collaboration between service users living in poverty, lecturers and researchers, providing educational programmes for social workers.
Review Quotes: "This is a rich and celebratory collection about the participation of service users in the training of social workers and in research about social work. It conveys confidence in the value of involving 'experts by experience' and is an excellent encouragement to those who are embarking on the early stages." European Journal of Social Work