‘My Contributions Made a Significant Difference’: Young Carers’ Reflections on Their Participation in Social Work Admissions

Abstract Whilst the participation of service users and carers (SUCs) in Social Work admissions (SWAs) has significantly developed over the past decades, concerns have been raised about the tokenistic nature of SUC involvement (Barnes, D., Carpenter, J. and Bailey, D. (2000) ‘Partnerships with service users in interprofessinal education for community mental health: A case study’, Journal of Interprofessional Care, 14(2), pp. 189–200) particularly in relation to young people (YP). Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) in partnership with Barnardo’s Action with Young Carers Liverpool have (BAWYC) worked to develop meaningful participation for YP in SWA. In this article, we discuss our approach to YPs’ participation, exploring their experiences of involvement. Using a co-production approach, drawing on participatory action research methodology, we utilise in-depth interviews from a purposive sample of young carers (YCs) to ask questions about the nature of YPs’ participation including: How meaningful they consider their involvement; what are the outcomes and benefits and what are the continuing barriers? Adopting a reflective thematic analysis, research findings indicate that YCs feel valued and respected in their SWA role, and surprised at the level of involvement and decision making ascribed to them. They report personal development and feelings of self-worth and increased confidence, helping them to consider their own futures in a more aspirational way. This article focuses on how we work with young people to involve them in our selection process for social work candidates on our social work programme. We highlight the changing social work professional and legislative requirements making the participation of service users and carers mandatory, and reflect on the limited participation of YP in this area. We discuss how we work in partnership with young carers, as a unique group of YP supported by the young carers’ agency, to allow for meaningful involvement. Young carers were interviewed about their experiences of involvement in the admissions work to ascertain the benefits and challenges of participation. Findings highlight that: • involvement provided personal and professional development; • investing in involvement work takes time in order to build and develop positive and respectful relationships; • YP felt confident and inspired to join local service user and carer networks giving them further involvement opportunities; • involvement helped to raise y