Experts by Experience – people who have used services and their supporters – are involved in every area of the programme. We are one of the few programmes which employs a dedicated coordinator of involvement, highlighting the importance of EbE within the sector.
Aims of involvement
The aims of Expert by Experience (EbE) involvement in the Clinical Psychology Doctorate programme are:
1. To enhance the learning and future practice of clinical psychology trainees by drawing on knowledge and insight gained from the experience of one or more of the following:
- living with physical, neurological or psychological difficulties
- caring for someone who lives with these difficulties
- using services relevant to clinical psychology theory ,and practice.
2. To collaborate in ensuring that the work of clinical psychologists graduating from the programme is underpinned by values and practices centred on the goals, needs, and strengths of the people who use services together with their friends and families.
Overview and Advisory Group (SAGE)
The Salomons course has a long history of involvement going back to 2006. We have pioneered a number of innovative forms of involvement and the programme is recognised as a national leader in this regard.
The British Psychological Society commended our work in this area at our last accreditation visit. Central to this work is the SAGE group, Salomons Advisory Group of Experts by Experience. This small and dedicated group of service users and carers meets every two months and has steered the development of involvement across the programme. Members are also available at other times for trainees to consult.
The clinical psychology programme team are proud of our pioneering Placement Advising Scheme, which we run in collaboration with our partner Trusts. For the first year of the programme, each trainee is matched with someone who has used, or cares for someone who has used, mental health services local to their placement. The pair meet monthly to discuss both the advisor’s and the trainee’s experience of, and reflections on services. Find out more about the scheme here.
Each year SAGE is involved in designing the process for selecting new trainees. Service users and carers also form part of interview panels.
Service users and carers are involved in many aspects of teaching, including a dedicated unit entitled ‘Service User and Carer Perspectives’. Guest lecturers who are active in the mental health service user and carer movement introduce trainees to issues in mental health care that are particularly important to service users and carers.
One issue often discussed in teaching, and which SAGE has identified as particularly important, is the need for clinicians to hold hope for service users.
Di Morris, a member of SAGE, has worked with programme staff to develop training, which enables students to understand the perspective of someone with a learning disability. Di says:
"I teach about learning disabilities as I have them myself. I’ve written a play, which the trainees join in with. I give a different perspective and answer any questions."
The SAGE group hold regular lunchtime seminars open to staff and trainees. The aim of these is to enable the service user and carer voice in the academy and to discuss and debate issues of common concern.
"It’s been an honour and privilege to contribute to the teaching of trainees by using my personal experience, and to see them learn and grow as clinical psychologists. Their course is richer by us being involved."
The National Institute for Health Research has a focus on patient and public involvement in research. We seek to reflect this in the encouragement and opportunities we offer to trainees to consult with service users and carers regarding their research.
"Working with an expert by experience to develop my MRP idea was so helpful. They were able to provide a thoughtful and insightful perspective on the project, and supported me to ensure it would be meaningful for those involved."
A number of trainees have undertaken research relating to clinical psychologists’ own experiences of mental distress. The place of personal experience in clinical psychology training and practice is an area of ongoing interest, discussion and research amongst staff and trainees. Two former Salomons trainees, now qualified, have recently formed a national UK network for clinical psychologists with lived experience of psychological distress, Int2grateMH.
This is an aspect of involvement that we are proud to have pioneered at Salomons. Since 2017, service users and carers have been joint examiners of some trainee work. This includes listening to presentations by groups of trainees and marking a piece of clinical work.
"We train and support Experts by Experience in assessing trainees. We have found that trainees are interested to hear what is important to people who have used services.”
Our team
Laura Lea leads and manages all aspects of involvement as well as being available for consultation to trainees, staff, service user colleagues, and those involved in planning and delivering teaching.
One of the Programme Directors, Anne Cooke, holds overall responsibility for this work on behalf of the programme management team.