ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the problems, the lack of understanding, the 'make do', 'good enough' attitude, or at worst, discrimination, that pervade services for people from vulnerable groups. It presents ideas on how health-care professionals can help people who are undervalued by society in general get a better sense of their own worth and value as part of their total experience in mental health services. This ties in with the concept of spirituality as what gives people is a sense of meaning and purpose; indeed it is a treatment of sorts in itself. Every service that the author has ever run, every design ever done or suggested, has always been underpinned by a simple idea: social role valorisation. People who use and work in services need some influence in those services, both in their design and operation. From a service failing by any measure, to NAViGO social enterprise, one that is far better rated by those who use and staff it.
