Nothing About Us without Us: Exploring the Attitudes Toward Service User Inclusion in Social Work Education in the United States, a Factor Analysis

Differences in terminology and legislation between the UK and the US must be clarified in order to fully appreciate the scope of this study. Goossen & Austin (2017) define “service user” as those who have experience using mental health or disability-related services, akin to the US terms, “client,” and “consumer” (Dill, K., et al, 2016). The UK’s Department of Health suggests that “service user” is a preferred term versus “people who use services,” because the latter alludes to lacking control over said services, similar to the relationship between consumers and businesses (Coldham, 2013). When reading “service user,” reviewers are welcome to consider what they know to be clients, patients, customers, consumers, service recipients, etc. As examples, a client working with a social worker to address their substance use issues, a patient working with a social worker toward discharge planning, a customer working with a social worker to improve their child’s behavior and a service recipient court mandated to work with a social worker to complete rehabilitation are all considered “service users.” A “carer” is “someone who, without payment, provides help and support to a friend, neighbor or relative who could not manage otherwise because of frailty, illness or disability” (Fitzhenry, 2008, p. 15).