Service user involvement in training: A catalyst for collaboration

Description

'Psychosis Revisited' is a two day workshop, based upon the British Psychological Society (BPS) report (2000): 'Recent advances in understanding mental illness and psychotic experiences'. It encourages mental health workers to take a fresh look at psychosis and psychotic experiences. Mark Hayward (academic tutor at the University of Surrey/ Clinical Psychologist) describes how he and an Occupational therapist, in conjunction with user trainers from the CAPITAL project, delivered this workshop to a Community Mental Health/Assertive Outreach team. This case study focuses in particular on one session entitled "service user perspectives". It outlines in detail how the session was planned and delivered, offering useful insights into how a safe learning environment was created, and reflects on learning gained. Discussions are ongoing that may lead to the embedding of 'Psychosis Revisited' within prequalifying training within a range of disciplines.