The School of Healthcare shares a Joint User and Carer Strategy (2003) with Leeds Metropolitan University School of Health and Community Care. 

The broad aim of this strategy is to ensure that service users and carers are involved as much as possible in all aspects of healthcare education and research in Leeds. Implementation of the strategy within the School of Healthcare is a shared responsibility.

The School employs an Academic Lead for Involvement, Sam Samociuk, and a Service User and Carer Involvement Development Worker, Chris Essen, to support inplementation of the strategy.

The school also has an Involvement Advisory Group that meets 6 times per year to generate discussion and suggestions on the processes of involvement, and act as a central link for advice to School staff and others. It has 12 members and is composed of at least 50% service users and carers, along with staff enthusiasts.

Service users and carers are currently involved in the following ways:

Attending meetings where the strategic thinking and planning for involvement activities is discussed (Service User & Carer Involvement Strategy Implementation Group).

Attending meetings where the content and structure of our courses is discussed and programmes written for validation or approval by our governing bodies (Curriculum Planning).

Attending meetings with programme managers and / or module teams to discuss a particular aspect of course delivery and evaluate the effectiveness of its content, structure and processes. This may mean becoming a standing member of a module team.

Being involved in the direct teaching of our students. This often involves relating personal experience of being a service user of carer and discussing issues that had an impact.

Representing a particular service user of carer organisation, with the intention of raising awareness of the work that they do and highlighting the issues they face.

Other opportunities will be developed over time, such as involvement in carrying out research.