Developing values-based education through service user participation

Simons, Lucy, Tee, Steve and Coldham, Tina (2010) Developing values-based education through service user participation. Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, 5 (1), 20-27. (doi:10.5042/jmhtep.2010.0216).

Abstract

Mental health education aims to develop valuesbased practice to support practitioners in clinical decision-making. Values-based practice requires high levels of cultural competence achieved through service user participation in professional preparation. The degree of service user participation remains dependent on the values of programme providers.

In this paper, we consider whether strategies to involve service users in mental health professional education can support the principles of valuesbased practice. To do this, we have drawn on the findings from qualitative studies of educators' practices and their views regarding service user involvement. Values-based practice requires self-awareness of values impacting on decisions and knowledge derived from service users' personal accounts. The studies suggest that while opportunities exist for service users to present their accounts, few examples of service user involvement facilitated deeper examination of values underpinning decision-making. Enabling service users to influence values-based practice development requires more authentic participatory approaches. Educators valued the contribution of service users' experiential knowledge to the learning process, but there was less evidence of educators' values base that would model commitment to the empowerment of service users.

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