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Challenging the narrative

Social work students’ views on the impact of service user and carer-led pedagogy to knowledge and practice

Bibliographic Data

ID11444554
AuthorsEleni Skoura-Kirk (0000-0003-0356-2802, University of Kent, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume44
Issue4
Pages825-839
Publication date2025-05-19
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Work Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0261-5479 • E-ISSN: 1470-1227
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/02615479.2024.2351434
OpenAlexW4399480744
LanguageEN
References cited34

Service user and carer involvement is firmly established as an integral part of social work education in the UK, with a growing body of evidence demonstrating its beneficial effects on student learning. Calls have been made to further develop its theoretical base and evaluate its impact on students’ future practice. This article contributes to these aims, by following a cohort of undergraduate UK-based social work students. Using a focus group, the research elicited the views of the students on how classroom-based learning by people with lived experience affected their learning and practice pre-qualification. The findings are underpinned by the theme of ‘challenging the narrative’. They assert the powerful effect service user narratives have on bringing issues ‘to life’ and challenging stereotypes, as well as affecting students’ practice. However, challenging the narrative also linked to students’ reflections on what counts as ‘legitimate’ and reliable knowledge and a disconnection between University-based learning and messages received in practice. The paper argues for an ongoing critical evaluation of the impact of pedagogy led by people with lived experience, with the dual aims of identifying what benefits student learning, as well as critically dissecting power, authority and knowledge

Medical education · Narrative · Pedagogy · Political science · Sociology · Engineering · Healthcare innovation and challenges · Medicine · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Psychology · Social Work Education and Practice · Social Work

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Highly citedNo
Open DOIOpen Access
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