The School of Social Work and Social Care at the University of Sussex has 
been commissioned by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) to 
undertake a study of initiatives to engage carers in the education of social 
workers throughout England and to support the formation of a national forum.  
The project forms part of the 2nd stage of a national project commissioned 
from The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) by the Department of 
Health to develop a strategy to support participation of service users and 
carers in social work education.

The project will sample a number of social work degree programmes to report 
on innovations in carers’ participation and identify the challenges encountered. 
By working in partnership with Carers UK and The Princess Royal Trust for 
Carers, the project team will be seeking to identify and report on sites where 
there is known expertise and innovative practice.  The project will also seek to 
promote exchange of good practice through regional and national consultation 
events, leading to the formation of a national forum.


The project is issuing a call for information on current or recent initiatives in 
engaging carers in social work education. If you have knowledge of a local 
project whose members may be interested to participate and share their 
experiences, please contact Associate Research Fellow: Andy Cheng (email 
[log in to unmask])


The project is led by Professors Suzy Braye and Imogen Taylor, with associate 
research fellow Andy Cheng as project manager, working to a steering group 
which includes representatives of Carers UK, the Princes Royal Trust for 
Carers, Crossroads and carers with experience of involvement in social work 
education.  For more information please contact any member of the team:
Suzy Braye, 01273 876648, [log in to unmask]
Andy Cheng, 01273 876689 [log in to unmask] 
Imogen Taylor, 01273 872511, i.j.taylor@ sussex.ac.uk