Abstract
This paper explores the methodological aspects of a user‐led study investigating mental health service user experiences of targeted violence and abuse (often called 'hate crime'). 'Keeping Control' was a 16‐month qualitative study, undertaken in the context of adult safeguarding reforms in England. By collecting data on service user concepts and experiences, the research sought to address a gap in research and practice knowledge relating to targeted violence, abuse and hostility against people with mental health problems. In this paper, we discuss the significance of the design and methodology used for this study, with a particular focus on the interviews with service users. The research was both user‐led and carried out in collaboration with practitioners and academics, a form of research co‐production. Our aim is to inform researchers, practitioners and policymakers about the value of user leadership in co‐productive research with practitioners, particularly for a highly sensitive and potentially distressing topic.
Highlights
This paper explores the methodological aspects of a user‐led study investigating service user experiences of targeted violence and abuse.[1]
The study was partly undertaken to inform the implementation of ‘The Care Act 2014: Statutory Guidance on Making Safeguarding Personal’ England.2[updated] These new policy approaches to adult safeguarding under the Care Act 2014 deter‐ mine that safeguarding is 'everybody's business' and that it should become more outcome‐focused and person‐centred.[3]
We felt the literature powerfully indicated the need for user‐led research and co‐production methods to address some of the identified gaps in knowledge
Summary
This paper explores the methodological aspects of a user‐led study investigating service user experiences of targeted violence and abuse (often called 'hate crime').1 'Keeping Control' was a 16‐month qualitative study, undertaken in the context of adult safeguarding reforms in England. We discuss the significance of the design and meth‐ odology used for this study, with a particular focus on the interviews with service users, informed by reflections from both participants and researchers. The research was both user‐led and carried out in collaboration with practitioner academics and survivor researchers in a form of co‐production. The findings from the overall study, the practitioner findings and the UK literature scoping review are published elsewhere.[1,4]
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