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Who is a service user?

Heule, Cecilia LU and Kristiansen, Arne LU (2024) In Social Dialogue p.29-32
Abstract (Swedish)
The concept of service user and other related concepts such as service user participation, service user influence and service user perspective have in recent decades gained increased importance in discussions about the development of social work practice, research and education. However, when these concepts are used, there is sometimes a lack of a well-thought-trough reflection on what is meant. Who is a service user and what is it that this person uses? In relation to who or what is someone a service user? When using concepts such as participation and influence, one important question is in what context and for what purpose participation is important. What is it that the service users are expected to have an influence on? Everything from... (More)
The concept of service user and other related concepts such as service user participation, service user influence and service user perspective have in recent decades gained increased importance in discussions about the development of social work practice, research and education. However, when these concepts are used, there is sometimes a lack of a well-thought-trough reflection on what is meant. Who is a service user and what is it that this person uses? In relation to who or what is someone a service user? When using concepts such as participation and influence, one important question is in what context and for what purpose participation is important. What is it that the service users are expected to have an influence on? Everything from the personal treatment/help to a more structural or policy-oriented area are possible as objects of influence. At the same time, the professionalization of social work has meant a development towards standardized solutions to people's problems rather than individually adapted efforts and services, which sometimes makes service user influence appear as a tokenistic activity. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to specialist publication or newspaper
publication status
published
subject
keywords
service user, participation, social work practice, research and education
in
Social Dialogue
issue
29
pages
29 - 32
ISSN
2221-352X
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6bc9ef80-e481-4f86-b48e-042e8750b646
alternative location
http://socialdialogue.online/sd29/article8.html
date added to LUP
2025-01-07 22:30:27
date last changed
2025-04-04 13:56:45
@misc{6bc9ef80-e481-4f86-b48e-042e8750b646,
  abstract     = {{The concept of service user and other related concepts such as service user participation, service user influence and service user perspective have in recent decades gained increased importance in discussions about the development of social work practice, research and education. However, when these concepts are used, there is sometimes a lack of a well-thought-trough reflection on what is meant. Who is a service user and what is it that this person uses? In relation to who or what is someone a service user? When using concepts such as participation and influence, one important question is in what context and for what purpose participation is important. What is it that the service users are expected to have an influence on? Everything from the personal treatment/help to a more structural or policy-oriented area are possible as objects of influence. At the same time, the professionalization of social work has meant a development towards standardized solutions to people's problems rather than individually adapted efforts and services, which sometimes makes service user influence appear as a tokenistic activity.}},
  author       = {{Heule, Cecilia and Kristiansen, Arne}},
  issn         = {{2221-352X}},
  keywords     = {{service user; participation; social work practice; research and education}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  number       = {{29}},
  pages        = {{29--32}},
  series       = {{Social Dialogue}},
  title        = {{Who is a service user?}},
  url          = {{http://socialdialogue.online/sd29/article8.html}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}