This study examines how workers with lived experience of addiction and/or homelessness navigate their professional identities, legitimacy, and sense of belonging post-transition from service users to frontline social care practitioners. Peer support roles have been widely studied, but less attention has been given to those who move into mainstream professional positions. Drawing on life-history interviews, ethnographic observation, and social network analysis in Sussex during the post-implementation phase of the Changing Futures programme, the research explores how experiential knowledge is recognised, mobilised, and constrained within professional and institutional contexts.
The study highlights the unique contributions of lived-experience workers to person-centred, empathetic, and integrated care, whilst also examining the emotional, ethical, and structural challenges they face. By analysing how these workers negotiate boundaries, trust, and professional authority, the research provides insights into improving workforce support, organisational culture, and service delivery. Ultimately, the project offers both practical guidance and theoretical understanding, demonstrating how lived experience can be harnessed as a valuable resource to strengthen social care systems, enhance community trust, and promote more equitable, responsive, and sustainable services.