Thread by @tamar_whyte

1. Check out this great thread. Here is my own experience in this area. I have an MSc in working effectively with people diagnosed with ‘personality disorder’. This includes service design & critically using various models to inform this, ie. all systems analysis, org change >

https://twitter.com/DanniCook5/status/1493999781462650880

2. group theory etc AS WELL AS ensuring needs of SUs met first. Studying as an LXP was f* hard because there was the need to constantly critique this through an experiential lens rather than the tried & tested other disciplines who have loads of academic resources to rely on. >

3. We also had to factor in issues such as the contested and western lens diagnosis designed by people from a certain demographic, how it impacted on people on end users from another demographic and intersectionality. We had to justify our positions academically and demonstrate >

4. their application into current systems, how these could be best designed to meet service user needs. We couldn’t get away with just doing a pie in the sky model. We had to demonstrate how to move the system from its existing position towards this. That includes staff who >

5. don’t want to move, people who have high levels of discrimination towards ppl dx with PD. Because good intentions get sabotaged. How would we foresee this using various models. How we could move hearts and minds along. It was hard f* work, ESP through an LXP lens! So, when >

6. a Lead post to develop PD services - EXACTLY WHAT MY MSC WAS IN - came up, I excitedly went to apply. Then I saw that they wanted a clinician with a professional registration. There was absolutely no goddam reason for this at Lead level. At this level of management, you are >

7. not doing clinical work, you are managing systems. The MSc gave me the necessary knowledge of the clinical areas but I didn’t need to be a trained clinician in each one. Bear in mind that clinicians are NOT trained in org development or service/system design. So the JD was >

8. prioritising skills that could have been covered in lower banded posts and ignoring qualifications essential for the post. I was told I couldn’t apply. I argued it was blatant discrimination, as an LXP I had no professional registration because my discipline had no structures>

9. for this, yet I was more highly qualified to do the work due to having an MSc in THAT ACTUAL FREAKING job. I applied anyway as protest, and gave examples of how the registration aspect could be overcome, ie. Job share. I also stated that since the strategy included >

10. co-production this needed to be considered at all levels of the hierarchy and decision making, in order to meet the baseline of power sharing. Did they appreciate the brilliance of the solution offered (sarcasm alert🚨)? Did they f*. So clinicians with no quals in this >

11. particular specialist area could apply, but an #LXP who had spent 5 years doing an MSc part time whilst managing disability and working could not. I give this example to show how alive and well discrimination towards us is - even when we are MORE QUALIFIED than our peers to >

12. do these posts. The reality is that whilst others hold the power to recruitment decisions, it doesn’t matter how well qualified we are. We are at the mercy of their benevolence, rather than protected by systems of equality. Care co-ordination, as mentioned in @DanniCook5’s >

13. thread is inspired but presently savage discrimination would make it impossible. However… like any good business plan, you start with where you are, where you want to be, and you PLAN HOW TO GET THERE. The excuses some NHS trusts give are not good enough if there is no plan>

14. to overcome the discrimination they have identified. It would not be acceptable for racism, ableism, sexism, discrimination against LGBTQ+ communities. Saneism is not acceptable either… ESPECIALLY from our Mental Health service providers.

15. @threadreaderapp please unroll!