Trainees' views on service user and carer involvement in training: a perspective from the West Midlands

A survey similar to Babu et al (Psychiatric Bulletin, January 2008, 32, ) was conducted in the West Midlands a year after it became mandatory to involve users and carers in psychiatric training. Completed questionnaires were received from 180 trainees and included specialist registrars from all specialties and senior house officers from all four rotations. A greater percentage of trainees (64% v. 47% in Babu et al's survey) were aware of the College requirement for user and carer involvement in training. As with Babu et al's survey, the most common setting was during case presentations (77%). As many as 61% of senior house officers had experienced user and carer involvement in their Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ academic programme compared with only 23% of specialist registrars.

The majority wanted users and carers to share their experiences and perspectives (82%) and to give feedback about their ability, attitudes and skills (70%). This was less so for involvement in planning teaching programmes (22%) and in selection of trainees onto training schemes (17%). This may be a reflection of the same reservations highlighted in Babu et al's survey. Livingston & Cooper's (2004) recommendation for training and support to users and carers would be essential in addressing these concerns. The introduction and implementation of this major component in training requires balancing the sensitivities and needs of both service users and trainees. Drawing from the experiences of other training schemes and the results of further research and audit will be an integral part in furthering this area of training.