Personality disorder service user help and support from Emergence

In December 2007 the Department of Health and Ministry of Justice commissioned the development of a national framework to support people to work more effectively with personality disorder. The partnership awarded the contract comprised Borderline UK (now part of Emergence), the largest service user and carer support group in the UK  focusing on the needs of those living with the experience of personality disorder; the Personality Disorder Institute based at Nottingham University; the London based Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust and the Open University.

They key goal of the Knowledge and Understanding Framework (KUF) is to improve service user experience through developing capabilities, skills and knowledge of the multi-agency workforces in health, social care and criminal justice who are dealing with the challenges of personality disorder.

The multi-level educational package includes working with the personality disorder Virtual Learning Awareness Programme; a validated Undergraduate Degree Programme and a Master's Degree Programme.

These high quality educational programmes are delivered by leading practitioners and service user consultants.

The KUF aims to:

• Design an accessible, relevant and quality assured developmental pathway making 'Breaking the Cycle of Rejection' a practical reality
• Raise awareness and shift attitudes
• Apply skills and knowledge to make a real difference
• Build upon service user experience
• Ensure informed and responsive leadership and management
• Improve inter-agency and inter-professional collaboration

For detailed information follow the link to the PD Institute http://www.institutemh.org.uk/-education-/the-knowledge-and-understanding-framework

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