In Embedding Young People’s Participation in Health Services: New Approaches, Louca-Mai Brady brings together contributors to explore the potential for inclusive and diverse approaches to young people’s participation in health services. This collection will be relevant reading for academics, professionals or involvement officers who would like to learn more about how to embed young people’s participation in their work

Teodorowski, Piotr

English

LSE Research Online

Book	Review:	Embedding	Young	People’sParticipation	in	Health	Services:	New	Approachesedited	by	Louca-Mai	BradyIn	Embedding	Young	People’s	Participation	in	Health	Services:	New	Approaches,	Louca-Mai	Brady	bringstogether	contributors	to	explore	the	potential	for	inclusive	and	diverse	approaches	to	young	people’s	participation	inhealth	services.	This	collection	will	be	relevant	reading	for	academics,	professionals	or	involvement	officers	whowould	like	to	learn	more	about	how	to	embed	young	people’s	participation	in	their	work.	This	review	originally	appeared	on	LSE	Review	of	Books.	If	you	would	like	to	contribute	to	the	series,	pleasecontact	the	managing	editor	of	LSE	Review	of	Books,	Dr	Rosemary	Deller,	at	lsereviewofbooks@lse.ac.ukEmbedding	Young	People’s	Participation	in	Health	Services:	New	Approaches.	Louca-Mai	Brady	(ed.).Policy	Press.	2020.Public	and	patient	involvement	have	been	embedded	in	the	United	Kingdom	in	recentyears.	Research	shows	that	participation	benefits	both	patients	and	health	services,and	it	is	included	within	the	UK’s	legislation.	Yet	there	still	exists	a	gap	between	thoryand	practice.	This	is	especially	visible	in	engagement	with	children	and	young	people.Involvement	has	no	age	limit	and	in	her	recent	edited	collection,	Louca-Mai	Bradybrings	together	contributors	to	explore	the	potential	for	inclusive	and	diverseapproaches	to	young	people’s	participation	in	health	services.	Brady	is	an	expert	in	theinvolvement	of	young	people,	and	this	book	builds	on	her	PhD	research.What	makes	this	book	stand	out	among	the	growing	literature	on	young	people’sparticipation	in	health	services	is	its	diverse	range	of	contributors.	These	include	notonly	researchers	and	practitioners	but,	most	importantly,	young	people	themselves.The	book	provides	an	insight	into	what	participation	means	to	young	people.	LizzyHorn,	one	of	the	young	authors,	explains	why	participation	is	important	to	her:Knowing	that	I	could	be	a	part	of	preventing	some	of	the	struggles	I	had	withinservices,	for	the	next	young	people	coming	through	them,	was	what	motivatedme	to	get	involved	in	participation.	Not	only	did	I	want	to	see	changes,	but	I	myself	could	be	part	of	thatchange.	(1)Reading	this	book	during	the	COVID-19	pandemic	is	timely.	Public	and	patient	involvement	was	often	lacking	in	thefirst	months	of	the	pandemic,	as	there	was	a	need	for	a	quick	response.	However,	Brady	points	out	in	her	postscriptthat	‘the	challenges	of	COVID-19	have	highlighted	the	potential	to	do	things	differently,	and	develop	moreparticipatory	and	inclusive	practice	in	collaboration	with	young	people’	(18).	Thus,	this	book	is	not	only	an	exampleof	pre-COVID	engagement	with	young	people,	but	should	also	encourage	a	reader	to	reflect	on	how	to	utilise	theselessons	in	future	work	during	the	pandemic.The	book	is	structured	around	four	related	sections:	young	people’s	participation	in	individual	decision-making(Chapters	One	and	Two);	examples	of	involvement	in	national	projects	and	programmes	(Chapters	Three	to	Five),collaborative	research	in	NHS	services	(Chapters	Six	and	Seven);	and	cases	of	young	people-led	participation(Chapters	Eight	and	Nine).	These	are	well-linked,	and	all	themes	are	brought	together	in	the	concluding	ChapterTen,	which	proposes	a	new	participation	framework.	Each	chapter	is	worth	an	in-depth	read.	In	this	review,	I	look	indetail	at	three	chapters	which	perfectly	exemplify	the	underlying	message	of	embedding	young	people’sparticipation	in	health	services.	I	could	not	put	the	book	down	once	I	began	reading	them.Impact of Social Sciences Blog: Book Review: Embedding Young People’s Participation in Health Services: New Approaches edited by Louca-Mai Brady Page 1 of 3		Date originally posted: 2021-01-17Permalink: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2021/01/17/book-review-embedding-young-peoples-participation-in-health-services-new-approaches-edited-by-louca-mai-brady/Blog homepage: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/Some	of	the	contributors	share	personal	experiences	which	make	reading	this	book	both	powerful	and	inspirational.In	the	second	chapter,	Zoe	Picton-Howell	draws	on	her	research	and	lived	experience	as	mum	to	Adam	Bojelian,	apoet	and	healthcare	advocate	who	had	a	severe	physical	impairment,	in	order	to	discuss	disabled	young	people’sparticipation	in	end-of-life	decisions.	Her	study	is	based	on	a	survey	and	in-depth	semi-structured	interviews	withpaediatricians.	She	discusses	guidance	on	young	people’s	involvement	and	then	explores	how	it	is	applied	inpractice.	The	findings	show	that	some	paediatricians	were	reluctant	to	recognise	a	young	person’s	right	andcapability	to	take	part	in	decision-making:As	Adam’s	life	and	death	showed,	and	as	senior	paediatricians	from	around	the	UK	in	my	researchconfirmed,	fulfilling	young	people’s	rights	to	participate	in	decisions	about	their	healthcare	is	not	just	alegal	obligation,	it	is	a	matter	of	life	and	death	(70).Thus,	Picton-Howell	finishes	with	a	recommendation	to	provide	more	teaching	opportunities	for	healthcareprofessionals.	This	chapter	highlights	the	importance	of	involving	young	people	in	healthcare.	More	informationabout	Adam’s	life	can	be	found	here.In	the	fifth	chapter,	Lindsay	Starbuck,	Kirsche	Walker,	Jack	Welch,	Emma	Rigby	and	Ann	Hagell	discuss	how	toinvolve	seldom-heard	voices	among	young	people.	They	use	the	experience	of	youth	engagement	projects	run	bythe	Association	for	Young	People’s	Health,	which	is	the	UK	independent	voice	for	youth	health.	Each	projectengaged	with	one	seldom-heard	group,	including	young	people	affected	by	child	sexual	exploitation,	young	peopleliving	with	HIV	and	young	people	who	had	weight	issues.	This	chapter	is	full	of	quotes	and	case	studies	from	youngpeople	that	provide	a	lot	of	insight	into	the	process.	One	of	the	participants	of	the	Be	Healthy	project,	which	aimedto	allow	young	people	to	discuss	the	health	needs	of	youths	affected	by	child	sexual	exploitation,	described	some	ofthe	challenges	for	seldom-heard	groups:One	of	the	huge	difficulties	for	young	people	getting	and	staying	involved	in	projects	like	this	is	that	webecome	known	for	our	past	experiences.	I	found	it	extremely	hard	to	talk	about	my	experiences	and	dealwith	the	attention	that	it	brought	to	me.	(145)Impact of Social Sciences Blog: Book Review: Embedding Young People’s Participation in Health Services: New Approaches edited by Louca-Mai Brady Page 2 of 3		Date originally posted: 2021-01-17Permalink: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2021/01/17/book-review-embedding-young-peoples-participation-in-health-services-new-approaches-edited-by-louca-mai-brady/Blog homepage: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/The	chapter	concludes	with	practical	pieces	of	advice	on	involving	seldom-heard	youth.	The	most	important	one	isto	check	directly	with	young	people	what	their	needs	are	and	then	implement	them.	Building	a	lasting	and	trustingrelationship	can	be	a	long	process.	Other	tips	include	paying	young	people’s	costs	in	advance	(as	not	everyone	canwait	to	be	reimbursed)	and	working	in	partnership	with	local	organisations	who	could	assist	in	reaching	diversevoices.	Furthermore,	the	authors	recommend	using	distancing	techniques	such	as	fictional	characters	fordiscussion.	Also,	creative	methods	such	as	storytelling	or	film	can	facilitate	the	group	in	raising	issues	whileprotecting	the	identity	of	participants.In	the	final	chapter,	Brady	builds	on	both	her	previous	research	and	the	work	in	earlier	chapters	to	propose	apractical	new	framework	for	embedding	young	people’s	participation.	She	argues	that	successful	participation	mustbe	youth-centred,	and	so	places	young	people	in	the	middle	of	her	model.	Youth	participation	is	enclosed	by	whatshe	calls	‘scope’	–	‘a	series	of	interconnected	dimensions	[…]	all	of	which	play	a	part	in	determining	both	whatyoung	people	will	participate	in	and	how	they	will	participate’	(261).	These	include	the	structure	of	participation,	itsprocess,	frequency,	where	it	takes	place,	inclusion	and	diversity	of	youth	voices,	power	and	control	and	learningfrom	participation.	Key	questions	to	consider	are	suggested	with	each	dimension.	This	model	will	be	especiallyhelpful	for	anyone	who	would	like	to	embed	young	people’s	participation	in	their	services.	The	model’s	design	doesnot	suggest	one	way	to	engagement	but	encourages	users	to	reflect	on	how	to	involve	young	people	‘in	ways	thatare	meaningful,	effective	and	inclusive’	(262).In	over	250	pages,	contributors	cover	a	wide	range	of	examples	of	how	to	involve	young	people	in	health	services.Still,	the	book’s	insights	are	transferable	to	other	areas	which	aim	to	involve	young	people:	for	example,	social	work,education	or	youth	democracy.	Thus,	this	book	is	relevant	reading	for	academics,	professionals	or	involvementofficers	who	would	like	to	learn	more	about	how	to	embed	young	people’s	participation	in	their	work.	Note:	This	review	gives	the	views	of	the	author,	and	not	the	position	of	the	LSE	Review	of	Books	blog,	or	of	theLondon	School	of	Economics.Image	Credit:	Kelly	Sikkema	via	Unsplash.Impact of Social Sciences Blog: Book Review: Embedding Young People’s Participation in Health Services: New Approaches edited by Louca-Mai Brady Page 3 of 3		Date originally posted: 2021-01-17Permalink: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2021/01/17/book-review-embedding-young-peoples-participation-in-health-services-new-approaches-edited-by-louca-mai-brady/Blog homepage: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/

Book review: Embedding young people’s participation in health services: new approaches edited by Louca-Mai Brady

Book	Review:	Embedding	Young	People’sParticipation	in	Health	Services:	New	Approachesedited	by	Louca-Mai	BradyIn	Embedding	Young	People’s	Participation	in	Health	Services:	New	Approaches,	Louca-Mai	Brady	bringstogether	contributors	to	explore	the	potential	for	inclusive	and	diverse	approaches	to	young	people’s	participation	inhealth	services.	This	collection	will	be	relevant	reading	for	academics,	professionals	or	involvement	officers	whowould	like	to	learn	more	about	how	to	embed	young	people’s	participation	in	their	work.	Embedding	Young	People’s	Participation	in	Health	Services:	New	Approaches.	Louca-Mai	Brady	(ed.).Policy	Press.	2020.Public	and	patient	involvement	have	been	embedded	in	the	United	Kingdom	in	recentyears.	Research	shows	that	participation	benefits	both	patients	and	health	services,and	it	is	included	within	the	UK’s	legislation.	Yet	there	still	exists	a	gap	between	theoryand	practice.	This	is	especially	visible	in	engagement	with	children	and	young	people.Involvement	has	no	age	limit	and	in	her	recent	edited	collection,	Louca-Mai	Bradybrings	together	contributors	to	explore	the	potential	for	inclusive	and	diverseapproaches	to	young	people’s	participation	in	health	services.	Brady	is	an	expert	in	theinvolvement	of	young	people,	and	this	book	builds	on	her	PhD	research.What	makes	this	book	stand	out	among	the	growing	literature	on	young	people’sparticipation	in	health	services	is	its	diverse	range	of	contributors.	These	include	notonly	researchers	and	practitioners	but,	most	importantly,	young	people	themselves.The	book	provides	an	insight	into	what	participation	means	to	young	people.	LizzyHorn,	one	of	the	young	authors,	explains	why	participation	is	important	to	her:Knowing	that	I	could	be	a	part	of	preventing	some	of	the	struggles	I	had	withinservices,	for	the	next	young	people	coming	through	them,	was	what	motivatedme	to	get	involved	in	participation.	Not	only	did	I	want	to	see	changes,	but	I	myself	could	be	part	of	thatchange.	(1)Reading	this	book	during	the	COVID-19	pandemic	is	timely.	Public	and	patient	involvement	was	often	lacking	in	thefirst	months	of	the	pandemic,	as	there	was	a	need	for	a	quick	response.	However,	Brady	points	out	in	her	postscriptthat	‘the	challenges	of	COVID-19	have	highlighted	the	potential	to	do	things	differently,	and	develop	moreparticipatory	and	inclusive	practice	in	collaboration	with	young	people’	(18).	Thus,	this	book	is	not	only	an	exampleof	pre-COVID	engagement	with	young	people,	but	should	also	encourage	a	reader	to	reflect	on	how	to	utilise	theselessons	in	future	work	during	the	pandemic.LSE Review of Books: Book Review: Embedding Young People’s Participation in Health Services: New Approaches edited by Louca-Mai Brady Page 1 of 3		Date originally posted: 2020-12-11Permalink: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/2020/12/11/book-review-embedding-young-peoples-participation-in-health-services-new-approaches-edited-by-louca-mai-brady/Blog homepage: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/Thebook	isstructured	around	four	related	sections:	young	people’s	participation	in	individual	decision-making	(Chapters	Oneand	Two);	examples	of	involvement	in	national	projects	and	programmes	(Chapters	Three	to	Five),	collaborativeresearch	in	NHS	services	(Chapters	Six	and	Seven);	and	cases	of	young	people-led	participation	(Chapters	Eightand	Nine).	These	are	well-linked,	and	all	themes	are	brought	together	in	the	concluding	Chapter	Ten,	whichproposes	a	new	participation	framework.	Each	chapter	is	worth	an	in-depth	read.	In	this	review,	I	look	in	detail	atthree	chapters	which	perfectly	exemplify	the	underlying	message	of	embedding	young	people’s	participation	inhealth	services.	I	could	not	put	the	book	down	once	I	began	reading	them.Some	of	the	contributors	share	personal	experiences	which	make	reading	this	book	both	powerful	and	inspirational.In	the	second	chapter,	Zoe	Picton-Howell	draws	on	her	research	and	lived	experience	as	mum	to	Adam	Bojelian,	apoet	and	healthcare	advocate	who	had	a	severe	physical	impairment,	in	order	to	discuss	disabled	young	people’sparticipation	in	end-of-life	decisions.	Her	study	is	based	on	a	survey	and	in-depth	semi-structured	interviews	withpaediatricians.	She	discusses	guidance	on	young	people’s	involvement	and	then	explores	how	it	is	applied	inpractice.	The	findings	show	that	some	paediatricians	were	reluctant	to	recognise	a	young	person’s	right	andcapability	to	take	part	in	decision-making:As	Adam’s	life	and	death	showed,	and	as	senior	paediatricians	from	around	the	UK	in	my	researchconfirmed,	fulfilling	young	people’s	rights	to	participate	in	decisions	about	their	healthcare	is	not	just	alegal	obligation,	it	is	a	matter	of	life	and	death	(70).Thus,	Picton-Howell	finishes	with	a	recommendation	to	provide	more	teaching	opportunities	for	healthcareprofessionals.	This	chapter	highlights	the	importance	of	involving	young	people	in	healthcare.	More	informationabout	Adam’s	life	can	be	found	here.In	the	fifth	chapter,	Lindsay	Starbuck,	Kirsche	Walker,	Jack	Welch,	Emma	Rigby	and	Ann	Hagell	discuss	how	toinvolve	seldom-heard	voices	among	young	people.	They	use	the	experience	of	youth	engagement	projects	run	bythe	Association	for	Young	People’s	Health,	which	is	the	UK	independent	voice	for	youth	health.	Each	projectengaged	with	one	seldom-heard	group,	including	young	people	affected	by	child	sexual	exploitation,	young	peopleliving	with	HIV	and	young	people	who	had	weight	issues.	This	chapter	is	full	of	quotes	and	case	studies	from	youngpeople	that	provide	a	lot	of	insight	into	the	process.	One	of	the	participants	of	the	Be	Healthy	project,	which	aimedto	allow	young	people	to	discuss	the	health	needs	of	youths	affected	by	child	sexual	exploitation,	described	some	ofthe	challenges	for	seldom-heard	groups:LSE Review of Books: Book Review: Embedding Young People’s Participation in Health Services: New Approaches edited by Louca-Mai Brady Page 2 of 3		Date originally posted: 2020-12-11Permalink: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/2020/12/11/book-review-embedding-young-peoples-participation-in-health-services-new-approaches-edited-by-louca-mai-brady/Blog homepage: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/One	of	the	huge	difficulties	for	young	people	getting	and	staying	involved	in	projects	like	this	is	that	webecome	known	for	our	past	experiences.	I	found	it	extremely	hard	to	talk	about	my	experiences	and	dealwith	the	attention	that	it	brought	to	me.	(145)The	chapter	concludes	with	practical	pieces	of	advice	on	involving	seldom-heard	youth.	The	most	important	one	isto	check	directly	with	young	people	what	their	needs	are	and	then	implement	them.	Building	a	lasting	and	trustingrelationship	can	be	a	long	process.	Other	tips	include	paying	young	people’s	costs	in	advance	(as	not	everyone	canwait	to	be	reimbursed)	and	working	in	partnership	with	local	organisations	who	could	assist	in	reaching	diversevoices.	Furthermore,	the	authors	recommend	using	distancing	techniques	such	as	fictional	characters	fordiscussion.	Also,	creative	methods	such	as	storytelling	or	film	can	facilitate	the	group	in	raising	issues	whileprotecting	the	identity	of	participants.In	the	final	chapter,	Brady	builds	on	both	her	previous	research	and	the	work	in	earlier	chapters	to	propose	apractical	new	framework	for	embedding	young	people’s	participation.	She	argues	that	successful	participation	mustbe	youth-centred,	and	so	places	young	people	in	the	middle	of	her	model.	Youth	participation	is	enclosed	by	whatshe	calls	‘scope’	–	‘a	series	of	interconnected	dimensions	[…]	all	of	which	play	a	part	in	determining	both	whatyoung	people	will	participate	in	and	how	they	will	participate’	(261).	These	include	the	structure	of	participation,	itsprocess,	frequency,	where	it	takes	place,	inclusion	and	diversity	of	youth	voices,	power	and	control	and	learningfrom	participation.	Key	questions	to	consider	are	suggested	with	each	dimension.	This	model	will	be	especiallyhelpful	for	anyone	who	would	like	to	embed	young	people’s	participation	in	their	services.	The	model’s	design	doesnot	suggest	one	way	to	engagement	but	encourages	users	to	reflect	on	how	to	involve	young	people	‘in	ways	thatare	meaningful,	effective	and	inclusive’	(262).In	over	250	pages,	contributors	cover	a	wide	range	of	examples	of	how	to	involve	young	people	in	health	services.Still,	the	book’s	insights	are	transferable	to	other	areas	which	aim	to	involve	young	people:	for	example,	social	work,education	or	youth	democracy.	Thus,	this	book	is	relevant	reading	for	academics,	professionals	or	involvementofficers	who	would	like	to	learn	more	about	how	to	embed	young	people’s	participation	in	their	work.Note:	This	review	gives	the	views	of	the	author,	and	not	the	position	of	the	LSE	Review	of	Books	blog,	or	of	theLondon	School	of	Economics.Image	Credit:	Photo	by	Gaelle	Marcel	on	Unsplash.	LSE Review of Books: Book Review: Embedding Young People’s Participation in Health Services: New Approaches edited by Louca-Mai Brady Page 3 of 3		Date originally posted: 2020-12-11Permalink: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/2020/12/11/book-review-embedding-young-peoples-participation-in-health-services-new-approaches-edited-by-louca-mai-brady/Blog homepage: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/

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Book review: Embedding young people’s participation in health services: new approaches edited by Louca-Mai Brady

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