A partnership between Exemplar Health Care and Sheffield Hallam University places the voice of service users at the heart of complex care education.

Feedback from Exemplar Health Care’s Service User Council is to be incorporated in the university’s course materials for the 2024 academic year to better prepare future health and social care graduates for a career supporting individuals with learning disabilities, autism, or complex care needs.

Sophia Feurtado-Jackson, service user engagement manager at Exemplar Health Care, who created and organises Service User Council meetings, said: “Our collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University is a testament to the commitment we share in elevating the standards of care for individuals with complex needs.

“This partnership is not just about education; it’s a bridge between theory and the real-world insights that people using care services can bring to the table. Together, we are fostering a learning environment that values the perspectives of those we ultimately aim to serve, creating a ripple effect that will resonate in the future practices of healthcare professionals. I hope it will set a precedent for a more compassionate, empathetic, service-user-led approach to education and the practical application of nursing.”

The new venture builds on the partnership Sheffield Hallam University and Exemplar Health Care have developed over a number of years which has seen the provider host health and social care students within its homes to gain first-hand clinical experience working in complex needs services. 

Sheffield Hallam University is at the forefront of health and social care education, being the first in the country to offer the advanced clinical practitioner specialist route for learning disabilities, with or without autism.