Enkanah Soobadoo, Jenny Rooks & Aloyse Raptopolous

1. User involvement in student selection the Department of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, LSBU Enkanah Soobadoo, Jenny Rooks & AloyseRaptopolous

2. User involvement in Departmental activities has been established for more than 10 years

3. Main areas of user involvement • Curriculum development • Teaching and learning • Assessment, e.g. OSCEs, practice feedback • Student selection and recruitment. Recruitment always involves academic staff, service staff and service users

4. Student selection day process • Numeracy test • Literacy test • Observed group discussion • Individual interview

5. User involvement in student selection process • Involved in all parts of the process • Undertake group discussion observation and completion of rating scale • Equal member of individual interview panel and ask agreed questions • Part of the final discussion to decide whether to offer an applicant a place

6. Benefits of involving service users • Potential for care & compassion can be explored • Experience of services can inform decision • Shared view of good practice potential • Inclusion in to the programme and shaping nurses of the future • Developmental benefits for service users involved

7. Some challenges • Budgetary implications (users are paid visiting lecturer rates; pre-registration nursing recruitment involves high number of selection days to meet commissioned recruitment targets) • Can be stressful and demanding when combined with life events • Need sufficient pool of service users to ensure consistent involvement and equal opportunities for candidates

8. Support arrangements • Agreed protocols for involvement in terms of process and payment issues • User Advisory Group • Service User Co-ordinator • User led training for involvement which includes recruitment and selection • Some service users have been supported to undertake PGCE in teaching and learning