Psychiatric Bulletin (2009) 33: 429-432. doi: 10.1192/pb.bp.108.020701
© 2009 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Education & Training

Training in partnership: role of service users with intellectual disability and carers

Asit B. Biswas, Consultant Psychiatrist

*Leicester Frith Hospital, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QF, email: asitbiswas{at}yahoo.co.uk

Lammata Bala Raju, Specialist Registrar

Leicester Frith Hospital, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Leicester

Shaun Gravestock, Consultant Psychiatrist and Honorary Senior Lecturer

Oxleas NHS Trust, London

Declaration of interest

None.

The participation of service users with intellectual disability and carers is essential in medical and psychiatric training at all levels. It validates the training experience provided by incorporating service users’ and carers’ perspectives and their experience of mental illness/challenging behaviour, anxieties, interactions and feelings generated when dealing with professionals involved in their care, and also provides an understanding of expectations, views on met and unmet needs and how management options are best explained and communicated for meaningful participation in providing consent and in making treatment decisions. This article brings together the benefits of involving service users with intellectual disability and carers in teaching, discussing their roles as trainers, and providing practical tips to plan sessions as well as recognise and overcome barriers.