Teaching methods

This paper describes a teaching and learning initiative developed in a UK social work programme that has involved carers, service users, academic social work staff and practitioners. Post‐graduate student social workers spend 24 hours in agreed periods with family carers or people who use social work services. The paper explains the origins of this initiative, rooted in a model of service user and carer involvement established over a number of years within the social work programme at the University of Dundee, Scotland.

The collection of 1300 picture symbols in ISPEEK at Home provides an easy-to-use and enjoyable tool for overcoming communication difficulties in children with autistic spectrum disorders. The CD-ROM contains symbols for a wide range of situations typically encountered in the home and beyond, from feelings and facial expressions - common problem areas for people with autism - to health and hygiene and holidays.

Service users, carers and academics describe participation in the social work degree at Bucks New University. It looks at the different ways that users and carers are involved in the course, the importance of the university providing appropriate training and support, the benefits students get from contact with users and carers and what users and carers gain from the experience. The video will be of interest to social worker educators, students on social work courses, people working more broadly in co-production/participation and service users and carers.