Recruitment and selection of staff can be complex and all staff involved require training to undertake it successfully. Service user involvement in this process is not a new concept but to involve them without being tokenistic and without training presents a real challenge to me.

For many years my day service has had a service user panel conducting interviews for candidates before a main interview with the management team. Once each panel has made a decision the results are discussed. This is where the difficulties start. On many occasions I have found myself appointing a person who is not the service users' first choice. This does not rest easy with my values.
My fears about this matter were recently alleviated when it was discussed at a day service managers' meeting. We found that each day service had a variety of methods to involve the users and we felt that a more consistent approach was required.

From this meeting, a colleague, Teresa Brough from Moorlands day service, Staffordshire, set up a working group, consisting of representatives from two other day services, the day service modernisation co-ordinator and a personnel manager. The aim of the group was to produce a team of trained service users to assist in the recruitment and selection process. The terms of reference were: "To formulate a training package for service users in recruitment with the department's human resource section, developing inclusive interview panels while highlighting and promoting best practice."

The group has produced a training package for service users, making it accessible, using pictures, symbols and other media. The package involves looking at the designations we interview for, what sort of person we would want, how we would find that person and what questions we need to ask. It then goes on to discuss policies and legislation which includes confidentiality, equal opportunities and various relevant acts.

Finally, the course covers decision-making, choosing the right person, how to disagree and feelings after the interview is completed.
To give the training the credence it deserves, it will be held at the department's staff development training centre. The plan now is to run a pilot course for service users from three of the nine day services. It is envisaged that the service users who complete the training will have a presence on the main interview panel.

If the pilot training proves successful it will probably be offered to the other day services and to people who are resident in the local authority care homes.

Ultimately, we would like to pay service users who are involved. This forward-thinking project could provide meaningful service user involvement in the recruitment and selection process.

Nichola Edge manages a day service in Staffordshire for people with learning difficulties