Beresford P, Croft S
The focus of this scoping review is user controlled research in social care. Growing interest in, and application of, this research approach highlights the timeliness of such a review. The review looks at the characteristics, strengths and limitations of such research, explore its theory and use examples to illuminate its policy and practice. Social care is concerned with meeting the support needs of a wide range of people, including disabled people, mental health service users, older people and people with learning disabilities. Insights from user controlled research may improve understanding of social care – how it is offered and also how needs for social care support may be reduced.
User controlled research is the most developed point along a continuum of user or public involvement in research. User controlled research is usually taken to mean research that is actively initiated, controlled, directed and managed by service users and their organisations, exploring subjects and questions that concern them.
