City Research Online

Abstract

Our research examines how different forms of knowledge and expertise are increasingly important in caring for people experiencing mental illness. We build on theoretical developments regarding multiple ontologies of knowing about illness. We examine how experiential knowledge of mental health problems, learned by being subject to illness rather than through objective study, is enacted in mental healthcare teams. We focus on Peer Workers (PW), individuals who have lived experience of mental health problems, and who contribute knowledge and expertise to mental health care within multidisciplinary healthcare teams. Our longitudinal study was undertaken over 2 years by a multidisciplinary team who conducted 91 interviews with PW and other stakeholders to peer support within a comparative case study design. We show how workers with tacit, experiential knowledge of mental ill health engaged in care practice. First, we show how subjective knowing is underpinned by unique socialisation that enables the development of shared interactional spaces. Second, we point to how the situated nature of subjective knowing is uniquely embedded in time and space and allows for the alignment of embodied knowledge with trajectories of care. Third, we provide insight into how subjective forms of expertise might be incorporated into multidisciplinary care.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Oborn, E., Barrett, M., Gibson, S. and Gillard, S. (2019), Knowledge and expertise in care practices: the role of the peer worker in mental health teams. Sociol Health Illn, 41: 1305-1322., which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.12944. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry R Medicine > RT Nursing
Departments:	School of Health & Psychological Sciences > Nursing
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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