Who Decides what service users need? Drawing on the course materials, critically discuss how such decisions might be made.

Authors Avatar

Lorna Swindell

U2302285

Debbie Sandeman

K303 05J TMA01

TMA 01

Who Decides what service users need? Drawing on the course materials, critically discuss how such decisions might be made.

Lorna Swindell

U2302285

Debbie Sandeman

K303 05J TMA01

Historically service users have been seen as victims who need to be protected and are in need of help. The legacy of paternalism which developed in Victorian times has been inherited by service providers. It is this legacy that the government and providers have tried to stamp out.  The main way of obtaining this was by involving service users in decision making, encouraging participation. In the 1970’s the participation of service users was beginning to be valued and seen as an important contribution to the improvement of services. Service users were consulted on varying issues from housing to health and education. The importance of this participation in decision making has escalated in recent years so much that it has become embroiled in Government policy (Birchall and Simmons 2004). This essay will discuss the two approaches used to allow participation by service users and will analyse the way that these decisions are made.

Participation of service users has become the main concern of providers. There are two different approaches to participation one is the view of service users as consumers. This is a view that has been developed mainly through government organisation. Their main aim is to improve efficiency, economy and effectiveness of organisations and services by drawing on the ideas and experience of service users to improve management and decision making (Leggett et al, 1999, cited in Reader book, p. 22). The view of service user as victims and in need of protection has changed into them as consumers.  This view originated from the idea of moving from a welfare

Join now!

Lorna Swindell

U2302285

Debbie Sandeman

K303 05J TMA01

state to individual responsibility. It is market based and works with the idea of service users as a customer/consumer who has a choice of services, they have a voice to say what they want and where they want to go (Beresfod and Croft, 1986; Winkler, 1987, as cited in Reader book, p. 22). For example parents being allowed to choose the school their child can attend, at one time children had to attend their local school but some schools were failing and to allow children equal opportunity the government ...

This is a preview of the whole essay