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Survey shows service user and carer involvement is working

Results of a survey of service users and carers shows the value of their involvement in M-RIC – to themselves and their professional colleagues. The survey was created by carer representative Terry Bryant, who is one of 10 service user and carer representatives recruited by M-RIC to work alongside researchers. There are two representatives in each of the five work themes being delivered by M-RIC.

Terry is a carer for his wife who has complex mental and physical health care needs. He said: “I thought it would be useful to hear how service user and carer representatives are feeling about working with M-RIC; whether they feel their voice is being heard and what they think about M-RIC’s progress, three months after we were recruited.”

The results were overwhelmingly positive for two of the three areas of questions, about satisfaction with the meetings and training sessions provided to the representatives; and about whether they feel engaged and integrated in M-RIC, with their voices valued, respected and listened to.

A third area, about the payment process for attendance and expenses, did not score highly.

Terry continued: “One of the things that came over loud and clear is how, through M-RIC’s efforts, through their training and support, they have really managed to make us feel that our voice is listened to, that it is heard and that we are validated in terms of our own life experiences.

“Also, it shows that we feel we are part of something that is really useful and will be able to generate something that will have a real impact on services.

“Not everything is perfect but the challenges also came out in the survey and now that they’re in the open they can be addressed and we can move forward.”