Optimising the UK social care sector is critical, and one approach with increasing advocacy is the power and impact of the dual perspective and the voices of those with lived experience. Many sectors utilise dual perspective approaches, however at the time of writing; the social care sector is making strides to further acknowledge its importance.
Dual perspectives offer a unique opportunity to see a sector from two sides. The use of mystery shoppers offers a dual perspective in the retail sector, and clinical testing offers a dual perspective in medicine. In social care, professionals with dual perspective see through a lens of both having been in receipt of social care and working as a professional within it.
However, being able to destigmatise and hold space for dual perspectives in the local government not only helps to provide the sector with a new approach that instigates change but becomes a catalyst for sector-wide development. One of the most prominent roadblocks to integrating lived experience into social care is the stigmatisation that surrounds receiving social care services. Statistics show that those who have experienced care can often find themselves faced with the biases that result from having been in receipt of it.
Although the data on lived experience can err on the heavier side, it is critical to comprehend the importance of individuality. Not all experiences are the same, and many professionals with this experience have a lot to bring to the table.
Enabling opportunity by advocating for dual perspectives within the sector may inspire opportunities to diversify knowledge and understanding across the board. Through the acknowledgement of these professionals, services can adapt and improve.
This embedding of dual perspectives into the sector can take on approaches such as challenging the stigma and encouraging lived experience voice across the industry.
Inviting and encouraging professionals with dual perspectives is the first step towards changing our thinking process. After all, there is nothing better to drive positive narratives and productive development than accumulated experience from both sides of the coin.
Craig White is Commercial Director at iESE Innovation
