The Power of Lived Experiences in Justice Social Work Services

The Power of Lived Experiences in Justice Social Work Services

South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership’s application of Care Opinion exemplifies the value we place on seeking feedback and learning from lived experiences across our services and our communities.

Social Lanarkshire Justice Social Work Services strive to enable every voice to have an opportunity to be heard, recognising that every story has the potential to inspire positive change. This is crucial as it helps us build on our strengths while also identifying areas where things may not be working as expected, allowing us to make targeted refinements and improvements wherever appropriate.

Encouraging the use of Care Opinion as an accessible and meaningful mechanism for providing feedback on Justice Social Work Services has required a thoughtful and tailored approach to ensure our service users fully understand the platform’s purpose and how their input contributes to service improvements. From refining our language to creating accessible promotional materials, every detail has been designed with the needs of our service users in mind. The Service’s success here has been driven by a strong, proactive network of Care Opinion Champions, who play a pivotal role in encouraging and supporting staff to engage service users in reflective discussions about their experiences. This personalised support helps contribute to building trust and fostering an environment where service users feel confident and valued.

South Lanarkshire Justice Social Work Services Care Opinion stories reflect the commitment of our staff to fostering meaningful conversations with those we serve.

Here’s just one example:

“I got support in areas that I didn't even know I needed and I have benefitted from this 100%. I got a worker that I was able to share all of my issues with in confidence. I managed to take the good from a bad situation and it has given me a support agent that I didn't know I needed.”

The positive outcomes delivered by our teams and the improvements achieved by our services shows what can be achieved through dedication, innovation, and a genuine commitment to caring, listening and learning.