Service user involvement in the selection of students

Service user involvement in health and social care education is progressively
accepted as good practice with legislation, policy and professional standards
requiring evidence of involvement (NHS Centre for Involvement 2007).
This presentation will report on the findings of a small scale study undertaken to
evaluate the involvement of service users & carers in the selection process for adult
and child nursing.
The aim of the research was to elicit the views of the three major stakeholders
involved in the process; prospective students, academics and service users/carers.
A questionnaire was distributed to candidates and focus groups were held with
academics and service users/carers.
The findings suggest that service user involvement in the selection process was
overall viewed positively. This was particularly valued by the candidates as it helped
them understand what would be expected of them in practice with the view that
service users were qualified to participate in the recruitment process due to their
experiences. There was general agreement amongst the academics that user
involvement was ‘a good thing’ however a number of issues were raised around the
complexities involved in the process. Service users were very positive feeling truly
involved and welcomed the opportunity to have some say on who is admitted to
nursing programmes.