Blended Intensive Programmes

Changing Social Work through Participation and Service User Involvement

Participation was a highly discussed concept and value for social work organizations. It was seen as an important aspect of ensuring needs-based services. Service user involvement, such as working with peer support specialists, followed the idea that people with lived experience could contribute to services with specialized knowledge.

During the IUW, we explored the possibilities of working with peer experts to create better services and transform the logic of institutionalized support to meet the needs of vulnerable individuals in society. We discussed the role of peers in social work practice and shared experiences with peer education, peer-led services and/or the involvement of peers in social work education. We challenged the concept of participation from different perspectives — driven by the question: “How can social work be supported by the knowledge of lived experience to rethink its own professional standards and values?”

Learning outcomes / expectations

  • Participants gained an overview of peer-supported services in Austria and other European countries.
  • Participants became familiar with important concepts such as Empowerment, Participation, and the Need-based Approach in Social Work.
  • Participants took part in excursions to social work organizations in Austria and reflected on their experiences in their home countries.
  • Participants exchanged their social policy knowledge and explored good practice examples across Europe.

This BIP was one of the 4 International University Weeks 2025 of the SocNet98 – A European Network of Social Work Universites.

BIP Partners