New Types of Worker - ABSWAP
Rendezvous for Justice and Equality (ABSWAP) London
Summary
Rendezvous for Justice and Equality, an innovative project hosted be ABSWAP (Association of Black Social Workers and Allied Professionals), is an ongoing attempt to improve the service provision for people with experience of mental health problems from BME communities. Proving that true partnership working between service users and care practitioners is not only possible, but highly beneficial, the team has conducted two research studies and are currently working towards setting up a social enterprise Housing Association/"one stop shop".
Description
Rendezvous for Justice consists of two main phases, to date. The first of these phases was the initial research project aimed at uncovering the experiences of Black mental health service users in London. Bringing together a diverse team of service users and care practitioners, ABSWAP provided Research Assistant training to ensure that each team member was ready to undertake the project. This training was central to breaking down existing barriers/stereotypes that exist between service users and providers.
Phase two utilised, and built on, the skills and sense of teamwork developed in phase one. Instead of focusing solely of people's experiences, the research assistants centred on service provision. By interviewing a range of individuals and agencies involved in either receiving or delivering services, the team identified existing gaps. Narrowing their focus once again, the team reviewed these gaps and are in the process of setting up a social enterprise to help fill it. They are working towards setting up a supported housing scheme, alongside a 24 hr drop in and GP surgery. A "one stop shop".
Outcomes
- Rendezvous For Justice was successful in breaking down barriers between service users and care providers, piloting a new way of working which values each individual's skills and experience
- ABSWAP have released two reports on the research to date, the first outlining the results of the research and the second focusing on the experiences of the research assistants
- In partnership with Lewisham College, this project piloted 'Community Outreach Training'
- The research team wrote, and performed, a sketch called 'My Doctor Don’t Listen' which highlighted the experiences of black service users and the need for advocates
- The research assistants have reported benefits both personally (an increase in self esteem and confidence) and professionally (strengthening their communication skills, their ability to work in a team, research skills and business knowledge).
- The engagement of service users and care providers holds many examples of good practice which has the potential to benefit the social care sector. ABSWAP is working on a communications strategy to capture this
Themes/Issues
- Rendezvous For Justice is an ongoing project, and the time that the research assistants have spent training and working together has resulted in their development as a solid and supportive team. This has been crucial to enable true partnership working and the breaking down of the carer/user divide
- The location of the training was an important factor. By choosing an accessible community venue, in a non-medical and non-educational setting, all research assistants felt comfortable and safe enough to engage
- The strong partnerships formed have been a key factor in supporting those who became unwell during the project. Instead of relapses causing research assistants to drop out, they were able to return to work more quickly
- The service users involved in the project have many experiences of being stigmatised, dismissed and labeled. Although many undertake valuable voluntary work in fields such as advocacy and mentoring, they have struggled to access paid employment and mainstream educational opportunities due to this stigma. A social enterprise is an exciting venture that will help to combat this
- ABSWAP have encountered some difficulties in communicating the lessons learned from this project to a wider audience. In part, this has been due to the lack of resources and weight inherent in small to medium sized voluntary organisations
