Thinking Ahead - Lee Stevens Meets... (Duncan Marshall)

GETTING TO KNOW..... DUNCAN MARSHALL

IN THE LATEST GETTING TO KNOW INTERVIEW,
LEE STEVENS TALKS TO THE THE SERVICE USER INVOLVEMENT
DEVELOPMENT WORKER FOR PORTSMOUTH, ABOUT THE EVER
EVOLVING WORLD OF SERVICE USER INVOLVEMENT...

LS: SO WHAT IS SERVICE USER INVOLVEMENT ALL ABOUT THEN?

DM: In a nutshell it's all about people who use services in Portsmouth having direct influence over how the services are run. In the process people who are involved gain new skills and the work is very much part of their recovery.

LS: HOW LONG HAS SERVICE USER INVOLVEMENT BEEN UP AND RUNNING?

DM: Locally, officially since the 90's with Portsmouth Mind and Portsmouth University running service user groups, and that started the journey. My role as promoter and developer of local involvement has existed since 2001.

LS: WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY FOR YOU?

DM: I don't have a typical day! My days are quite diverse. My role has to be very flexible to meet the demands of it, and a typical sort of day may be going from a one to one meeting to facilitating or helping a group.

LS: ARE THERE ANY EXCITING PROJECTS THAT ARE ONGOING AT THE MOMENT?

DM: We are always in high demand, so it's always quite busy. One of the most exciting projects currently is a user focussed review of social and vocational support services (day services).

LS: HOW DO YOU RECRUIT PEOPLE INTO SERVICE USER INVOLVEMENT?

DM: Through various ways. Mostly word of mouth. Publicity hasn't been a strong point in the past because we've spent the last few months sorting ourselves out. We are about to improve our promotion by going out and visiting user groups, services, and members of staff.

LS: CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT THE SERVICE USER INVOLVEMENT MANAGEMENT GROUP?

DM: The group was formed as the first part of ensuring our projects are directed and managed by service users. The group line manages my role in conjunction with our host organisation, and it takes full responsibility for everything we do. We are striving to be independent. We have a constitution, which takes into account all aspects of our work.

LS: HOW MANY SERVICE USERS ARE INVOLVED AT THE MOMENT?

DM: We have 86 on our books, however those who are regularly active amounts to about 20.

LS: WHAT FIRST ATTRACTED YOU TO YOUR CURRENT JOB?

DM: I was a manager in social services and I felt I had become disconnected from service users. I saw my current post advertised and I was inspired by the fact it seemed to be a fusion of management experience but working with service users. I've always felt passionately about people having a say in their treatment and had always tried to lead the way in my previous roles. This post was exciting because I wanted to be a part of bettering user involvement.

LS: IF SOMEONE WANTS TO GET INVOLVED HOW DO THEY GO ABOUT IT?

DM: They get in touch with me through involvepompey@googlemail.com or phone or text 07834 750981.

LS: WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR SERVICE USER INVOLVEMENT?

DM: The future is bright. I'm really excited by some of our recent achievements and in the future I hope we strengthen what we do, become more representative of service users by getting more people involved.

LS: WHAT DO YOU DO TO RELAX?

DM: I listen to music, go to the gym, read, go to the cinema, and I like to cook if I have the time.

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