Modernising day services in Birmingham ‐ taking service users with us
| Published date | 13 May 2010 |
| Date | 13 May 2010 |
| Pages | 20-23 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5042/mhsi.2010.0238 |
| Author | Jane Thakoordin, Rosina, Elaine |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
Mental Health and Social Inclusion • Volume 14 Issue 2 • May 2010 © Pier Professional Ltd20
MODERNISATION
Consultation
What followed was a series of consultation processes
that involved service users both as participants
and facilitators. We contracted a local third sector
organisation to facilitate the first of three rounds of
consultation, and this enabled service users – many
of whom felt unsettled, anxious and fearful at the
potential loss of their service – to express these
feelings to people who had a shared experience of
mental health difficulties.
Innovative and creative methods of engagement
were used to ensure that as many people as possible
had equal opportunities to participate. These included
the following.
■Workshops and small group discussions delivered
in people’s first languages, if other than English.
We know that many community languages
do not have translatable phrases for mental
illness, recovery and the many other potentially
Background
The reason for change was national social policy,
coupled with a report presented to the City Cabinet’s
Scrutiny Committee, which included a review of
current day services managed by Birmingham
City Council. The review recommended a radical
transformation from the traditional model of
providing services within day centre buildings, to a
more personalised service, focusing on supporting
people to maintain, or regain ‘normal lives’ in their
local communities. The review included a proposal
to close day centre buildings and replace them
with user-led social support resource hubs, sited in
community venues.
When we began this journey, we knew it would
be quite traumatic for some people, especially those
who had been coming to day centres for years, and
had developed highly supportive friendship groups
around the building.
Modernising day services
in Birmingham – taking
service users with us
Jane Thakoordin
Project Manager Day Services Modernisation, Birmingham City Council
Rosina
Service user
Elaine
Service user
Abstract
This article is an account of day service modernisation in Birmingham, describing how a range of innovative
approaches to consultation with service users played a key role in reshaping day services in the city.
Key words
Modernisation; Day services; Service user participation; Consultation
10.5042/mhsi.2010.0238
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