(This policy was approved by UK Federation members at the 1999 AGM)

• The UK Federation of Smaller Mental Health Agencies believes that service users, and organised groups of users, should have the opportunity to participate in all aspects of the planning, delivery and evaluation of mental health services, including their own treatment and care.
  
  
• For such participation to be meaningful, service users need confidence, good information, practical support, appropriate preparation and training and clear feedback i.e. a fully informed response to their contributions.
  
  
• Those planning and running services should recognise that users are likely to be disadvantaged in all these aspects compared with professionals and should aim to redress the imbalance by promoting positive attitudes, allocating resources and giving priority to the comfort and convenience of user representatives.
  
  
• In respect of collective issues, there may not be one "user view". Service users, when acting as representatives, have a responsibility to seek out and give voice to the views of other members of their group. Those planning and running services should ensure that as wide a range of opinions as possible is sought and that user representatives are recruited from all sections of the community. Particular care should be taken to enable the participation of users with additional needs, who might otherwise be excluded.
  
  
• Some users will want little or no involvement and it should be clear that this will not lead to criticism or any withdrawal of care or support.