Modelling Service User Participation in Social Care

Abstract

• Summary: This article develops a means of evaluating service user participation in social care by modelling from a social network analysis framework. • Findings: The three sections of the article cover: i) an overview of the literature identifying the main agendas and influences of practical and theoretical models; ii) mapping the meanings and the mechanisms of interpretation of participation in social care; iii) a positive proposal of a network analytic model for evaluating the degrees of participation in social care agencies for monitoring and evaluation. The conclusion raises some criticisms of the ways social care research has engaged in too general discussions of participation such that they cannot be operationalized. Some observations about the politics of `representation' and `faith' in calls for participation are also raised. • Applications : A positive proposal of a network analytic model for evaluating the degrees of service user participation in social care agencies for monitoring and accountability is developed. The value of social network analysis is outlined by its emphasis on relationships between actors, as distinct from an emphasis on the attributes of individual and groups of actors. To this end a new model of participation for social care derived from network analysis is developed.