25 | P a g e
Using Evidence to Inform Professionals and Organisations Social
Work Module 753
Title of Systematic Review Delivering together: service users and
social workers in partnerships as
co-producers in research and
continuous improvement
Abstract
Context
The aim of this systematic narrative review was to examine the
international and national empirical research evidence base to explore
what is currently understood by the term involvement of service users and
social workers collaborating together as partners, co - producing research
and service improvement. Its objective was to explore what makes
involvement and co-production meaningful and in particular what needs to
be considered to make this a reality.
Methods employed in the review
Three databases, PsycINFO, Social Services Abstracts and Social Care
Online (SCIE) were used.
The key concepts used within each search were:
Service user or client or customer or consumer or user or "expert by
experience"
AND
Social work* or social casework or social work education
AND
Co-production or coprodu* or particip* or involv* or engag* or "patient
and public involvement" or "patient public involvement" NOT "patients" or
"client participation" or "user" participation"
AND
Research The new line study included twelve qualitative studies. A
balanced mix of small and large studies used various methodologies
including comparative, narrative, participatory action research and
purposive sampling analyses.
Findings
The focus of this review was that there is a dearth of research on social
workers and service users working in partnership as co- producers in
research.