Assessing the value of a novel

Abstract

Objective: This paper ascertains the value of a novel approach to creating a participative social learning space with service users, carers, and practitioners to develop recovery-oriented conversations and the experience of collaborative care planning. Methods: A participatory method “World Café” was utilized with taught masterclasses on recovery principles. Evidenced-based practice was a central feature drawn from service user research. The Model for Improvement: Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framed the sessions to generate and test ideas. Results: Service user and carer attendance was low at the start, although this increased after testing ideas using PDSA cycles to improve this. Shared learning grew over time, which led to ideas to create improved participation in care planning. Conversations also developed towards becoming more recovery oriented after participants incorporated a framing set of recovery concepts into the sessions. Conclusions: The café design proved it was possible to both create a social learning space and change conversations leading to a greater focus on recovery through using CHIME (a conceptual framework incorporating connectedness, hope, identity, meaning, and empowerment). The café successfully generated improvement ideas and created a participative learning space.