This project aimed to inform the development of a new MSc ‘Diseases of Excluded Populations’ through engaging directly with service users and organisations involved in service delivery to socially excluded people in the Brighton and Sussex areas.

The Course

The MSc Diseases of Excluded Populations was an innovative new course from the Institute of Postgraduate Medicine. The development and delivery of the course was drawn strongly upon the experience of people who have experienced, or are experiencing social exclusion, as well as the expertise developed in the local community in dealing with the causes, difficulties and outcomes for excluded groups.

Impact and Outcomes •Increased engagement in postgraduate education. •Reduced isolation of service users and workers. •Increased diversity of student cohort. •Improved engagement of service users and workers in teaching. •Improved appraisal and assessment of services. •Increased reflective practice among workers. •Higher profile for services working with socially isolated groups. •Improved communication between statutory and voluntary groups and their teams. •Improved status of University among the local community. •Improved health and social outcomes for service users.

Mutual Benefit •The University gained the benefit of input to its course from a wider range of service users and experts in the community. •The course was relevant to a cohort of people who do not currently engage in post-graduate education and who may have been experiencing professional isolation or stagnation. •The qualification improved the students’ prospects for employment. •The course taught transferable skills such as literature searches, research methods and critical appraisal skills. •The clients benefitted from the input of more highly expert, and engaged workers. •The course created original research in under-researched areas •Service users benefitted from improved inclusion, being listened to, having a say in the appraisal of their services and improvements to the profile and effectiveness of the services they use.

Partnership Information

Academic Supervisor Dr Chris Sargeant, Senior Lecturer/GP Brighton Homeless Healthcare

University Partner Institute of Postgraduate Medicine, University of Brighton

Community Supervisor Charity Easton, Homeless Healthcare and Strategy Consultant

Community Partners providing a variety of services for excluded people •Brighton and Hove City Council/Brighton Drug and Alcohol Action Team •MIND -charity for mental health issues, Worthing, West Sussex •Brighton Homeless Healthcare-primary care service for homeless people