|
WHAT IS UNTRAP?
|
| UNTRAP (University/User Teaching and Research Action Partnership) is a partnership between users of health and social care services and carers, the University of Warwick and the NHS.
|
|
AIMS OF UNTRAP
|
|
The message of UNTRAP is that we all have much to learn from each other and that everyone will benefit if service users, carers, academics and professionals can work better together. UNTRAP aims to support the involvement of service users and carers in teaching and research. This is so that service users and carers can have a direct influence on the skills and knowledge of professionals in training and on research and evaluation agendas. Everyone can learn in this process. For example, service users can develop skills for influencing decisions in meetings, or for putting across important messages to student doctors or social workers. Professionals can learn to understand better the views of service users and carers and to communicate clearly with them. UNTRAP aims to support the development of new skills and knowledge through training events. UNTRAP also aims to play a part in developing good practice in partnership working, for example, through developing a code of conduct and guidelines on payment for participants.
|
|
PRINCIPLES GUIDING UNTRAP
|
- UNTRAP members should be valued as full members of any working group and not merely as ‘service user/patient experience’ specialists
- UNTRAP members should be provided with adequate practical support, including access to information and IT facilities and opportunities for training
- UNTRAP members should be paid and reimbursed at a fair rate for any activities they undertake.
|
|
WHO ARE THE MEMBERS OF UNTRAP?
|
|
UNTRAP is made up of service users and carers who are interested in research and teaching. The members of UNTRAP come from different backgrounds and have varied interests but they share a commitment to learning together. Members are involved at different levels, with some people getting involved in one-off events while others are more heavily involved.
Some members of UNTRAP are also involved directly with social services departments or the NHS Trusts in Coventry and Warwickshire where they work directly on service improvement. UNTRAP contributes to service development less directly, but aims to improve services and professional practice through supporting service users and carers to influence research and teaching.
|
|
|
