Staff Perspectives of Service User Involvement on Two Clinical Psychology Training Courses

This study investigated both negative and positive staff perspectives of service user involvement on two clinical psychology training courses as part of an ongoing process of service evaluation. Ten clinical psychology staff from two training courses were interviewed over the telephone by a current trainee clinical psychologist using a semi-structured interview method. Data were coded into textual units of meaning and then analysed using content analysis. The categories most cited by participants regarding the positives of service user involvement were that service user involvement "develops trainees learning" and "challenges power differences". For opportunities of service user involvement to provide benefits to the training courses, most participants cited "meaningful versus tokenistic involvement", followed by "strategic involvement". Regarding negatives and barriers, those most cited were "differences of opinion or agendas" and "lack of resources". Whilst the findings suggested that the service user involvement initiatives on both courses have been well received, research is needed into how service users also experience the process. Interventions that facilitate staff reflection and processing of multiple perspectives were also recommended, particularly with regards to negative experiences of service user involvement.