Book Review – Putting participation into practice

Putting participation into practice
Dr Cathy Street and Barbara Herts
Published by YoungMinds
£6.00; order line 0870 870 1721

STAR RATING: 3/5

I have to admit that initially this guide did not fill me with enthusiasm as it looked quite dull and uninviting. However, I was pleasantly surprised, writes Chantal Stevens.

The guide begins by being clear about who it is aimed at, and is written in an easy-to-read manner.

I found the summaries of key policies that relate to involving young service users particularly helpful. It was a good reminder of the policies that are out there, but was kept brief so you didn’t feel too overwhelmed with information. There is also an excellent resource/reference list at the back of the guide.

On the downside, I felt that some of the information was a little repetitive and that there were more case studies than necessary. I felt it could benefit from more diagrams, such as the “ladder of participation”, to help summarise and clarify the information discussed.

The guide was interesting to read, but acted more as a refresher than as a source of new information. Its suggestions and ideas could be adapted and applied to user involvement and participation across all services, making the guide an appropriate read for most practitioners.

Chantal Stevens is a primary care liaison mental health nurse in central London