Meeting the challenges of participation? Care experienced people’s involvement in social work practice and policy development

Although the last decade has seen policy initiatives in the UK aiming to improve the experiences of children in care and care leavers, most have received criticism for either not involving care experienced people, or for their lack of inclusivity. Indeed, little is known about the extent to which people with lived experience shape practice and policy developments, which reflects a significant gap in our understanding of what trying to make changes to care systems looks, feels and is like from an insider perspective. This paper considers attempts to influence practice and policy from the perspectives of 15 care experienced people who had been involved in substantive public campaign work relating to children in state care and care leavers in Scotland and England. Participants shared their experiences of working to influence change and highlighted good and bad practice that they had encountered working with different individuals and organisations claiming to promote the views of those with lived experience. The paper highlights the motivations, costs, barriers and facilitators for care experienced campaigners working to improve care systems. It concludes by sharing good practice to ensure that participation is properly appreciated, valued, and ethically informed.