ABSTRACT
This chapter identifies different meanings of participation, using the models of ladders of participation'. It discusses the significance of participation from different social policy and social work perspectives, and identifies key questions and principles for whole systems' change. Sherry Arnstein's ladder of citizen participation' has become a well-known and highly influential model for describing and analysing participation. The chapter outlines Arnstein's model and another famous ladder, by Roger Hart, for children's participation. She argues that we need a more contextual understanding of participation. Another important dimension is whether the aim is to encourage participation for its own sake, because the process itself is necessary and worthwhile, an aspect of citizenship, regardless of any benefits it brings, or whether better outcomes are the litmus test. This chapter has debated some of the ambiguities, tensions and conflicts about service user participation and choice.
