Community participation and social inclusion in Bristol

Abstract

Purpose

This paper reports on action research which explored assertive outreach service users’ experiences of community participation and then fed this learning into a multi‐agency forum – where it was used in joint‐planning between mental health services and community partners, aiming to maximise social inclusion locally.

Design/methodology/approach

Action research methodology was chosen to examine the forum's work because it brings together different perspectives to reveal an issue in its entirety and effect change in practice. Service users’ experiences were explored using semi‐structured qualitative interviews.

Findings

Engagement in mainstream community‐based activities re‐connected service users with cherished life roles and developed feelings of self‐efficacy, belonging, and wellbeing. Effective inter‐sectoral working in the forum was based on a shared agenda and collective action planning.

Research limitations/implications

Whilst every effort was made to ensure an authentic service user voice informed service development, it is unfortunate – in action research terms – that no service user interviewees were able to participate directly in the work of the forum. Community development work can build on micro‐level, person‐centred mental health care and extend outwards to collective community activity, aiming to harness social capital.

Practical implications

Assertive outreach – harnessing mainstream occupations through care‐planning – achieved outcomes that institutional rehab could not, and did so with a minimum of stigmatisation.

Social implications

This inquiry highlights that social inclusion is the responsibility of the community as a whole.

Originality/value

This inquiry appreciated service users as evaluators of the services they used and aimed to bring that knowledge to bear on service development.

Citation

Fieldhouse, J. and Donskoy, A. (2013), "Community participation and social inclusion in Bristol", Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Vol. 17 No. 3, pp. 156-164. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-05-2013-0014