SErvice user FAQs

Who can volunteer?
Anyone with direct experience as a service user or carer of health and social care services. We are keen to work with people of all ages and abilities and from a diverse range of backgrounds as that reflects the breadth and depth of the experience we want to offer our students.

What skills do I need?
Your experience and a willingness to work with us and share that experience is the key skill that you need. We will support you in regards to how to share that knowledge and experience so that it influences students learning and the research that we undertake.

How much time does it involve?
The amount of time you give is up to you and would be something that we would agree with you. It could range from a 1 hour teaching session through to a whole day as part of a team assessing students work or interviewing prospective students. It might be one hour per semester or more frequently if you are involved in more than one area of work. Peoples’ circumstances change and therefore you can alter the amount of time you commit to working with us accordingly.

Is there any training?
Yes, we offer a programme of training opportunities, beginning with Patient Learning Journeys for those who are new to The School of Healthcare to workshops on different aspects of working with The School, individual sessions with course leaders focussed on particular topics and Master Classes on topics identified by the Service User and Carer community as being of interest to them. These events are to help prepare you for working with us and also as a recognition of the contribution that service users and carers bring to our work.

Is there any payment?
We do pay people for their contribution to teaching and research. We also recognise that for a number of reasons some people would prefer to have their contribution acknowledged in non-monetary ways and we look to do this through providing access to other opportunities within the university.

Would you like to know more?
If you would like to know more about working with The School of Healthcare we would be happy to talk to you or arrange for one of current service users and carers to talk to you about their experience of working with us. Please contact either:
 Elaine McNichol – E.McNichol@leeds.ac.uk 0113 343 3111
Or Jenny Irvine – j.irvine@leeds.ac.uk  0113 343 1384