Transcript SOCIAL CARE RESEARCH IN WALES, THE

SOCIAL CARE RESEARCH IN WALES, THE
PAST, THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE
Peter Huxley
Senior Research Leader, Health and Care Research Wales
Professor of Mental Health Research
Centre for Mental Health and Society, School of Social Sciences
The Social Care Research Review
CONTEXT
• Important contextual differences between social care and
health, in terms of funding, capacity, and research
governance arrangements
• In Wales, 86% of care homes, 66% of children’s homes
and 40,000 of the 70,000 workforce are in the
private/independent sectors – implications for research
infrastructure and capacity development
• Internationally, there has been more progress in relation
to social care research involving children than in other
groups both in terms of the amount of research and its
dissemination
• As in other parts of the world and the UK as a whole
there is a distinct lack of the use of, experience and
expertise in, quantitative research methods
THE PAST
SELECTED AIMS OF THE HUXLEY REVIEW
• Assess the current state of provision of research expertise
and capacity in social care at the national and local level.
• Determine whether the current structures and mechanisms
(to build capacity and infrastructure) are adequate to meet
the strategic (priority) needs of social care research in Wales.
• How we can strengthen or improve capacity to better serve
the evidence base needs of stakeholders (including
governmental and non-governmental sectors) in relation to
policy, leadership and service development in social care.
The Social Care Research Review
PHASE 1
The review of the literature accessed major databases 20002008 (ASSIA, Web of Knowledge, Social Services Abstracts)
Web sites of relevant bodies (Care Council, the Social Services
Improvement Agency, the Department of Health).
PHASE 2
Qualitative interviews with key stakeholders in the social care
sector including, WAG, CCW, SSIA, WLGA, WORD, AWARD,
academics, local authorities and voluntary sector organisations
(January – June 2008)
PHASE 3
Survey of senior and middle managers and research officers
within the social care services, and with social work educators.
SOCIAL CARE RESEARCH CAPACITY:
COMBINED RESULTS
The need for strong leadership for social care research
(BarrAtt, 2003; Proctor et al., 2007).
Increased funding encourages the use of research in practice
(Proctor et al., 2007).
There are no specific research & development funds at the local level
(Cooke et al., 2002).
Links between academia and practice need to be stronger
(Cooke, Owen and Wilson 2002; Proctor et al 2007).
There is no central log of social care research
(Cooke, et al., 2002).
There is a need for resources to support translational work
(research findings into practice)
(Newman and McDaniel, 2005)
There is a lack of research training in the social care field
(Sheldon and Chilvers, 2002).
There are low levels of research skills especially in quantitative methods
(BarrAtt 2003; Bilsker and Goldner, 2000; Sengupta, et al 2003; Webber, 2008; Sheldon
and Chilvers 2002).
A high level of interest in research, but a low level of engagement by practitioners
(Caldwell et al., 2007; Cooke et al., 2008; Osmond and O’Connor 2006; Sheldon and
Chilvers, 2002).
Work/time pressures are frequently cited as reasons for non-engagement
Cooke et al (2008); Proctor et al (2007)
The work environment tends not to support a research active culture
(Cooke et al., 2008; Sheldon and Chilvers, 2000; Moseley and Tierney 2005 ; Booth et al
2003, Moseley 2004; Sengupta et al., 2003).
At present there is a limited ability among practitioners to identify priorities for social
care research (and research questions)
(Stevens et al 2007; Webber 2008)
There is a growing interest in the development of the emphasis on research into
outcomes for individual service users
(Stevens et al 2007).
Further training is associated with greater research engagement
(Cooke et al 2008; Proctor et al., 2007)
The Social Care Research Review
Conclusion 1: There was widespread
agreement that there is a need for clear and
effective leadership in the social care research
arena, as a key component of the overall
research and development strategy
The case for an inclusive centre of excellence,
with agency and HEI contributions, which could
enhance existing research networks in social
care terms, should be explored.
The Social Care Research Review
There is support for the
enhancement of social care research
capacity in academic and practice
settings in Wales
Conclusion 3:
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Conclusion 4: There needs to be specific
consideration of the role and function of the current
supports and networks to assess their fitness for
purpose. Recommendation 4: review the social care
components of the current research infrastructure and
where necessary seek to enhance the social care
contribution. Existing networks should be further
enabled to generate successful research bids with
substantive social care content, on a substantial scale.
The Social Care Research Review
THE PRESENT
Networks
Support
Leadership
INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES:
CENTRES AND NETWORKS
•
•
NISCHR WORD/AWARD…HEALTH AND CARE RESEARCH (CYMRU)
RESEARCH CENTRES AND UNITS (REDUCED FROM 14)
CENTRE FOR AGEING AND DEMENTIA RESEARCH
NATIONAL CENTRE FOR MENTAL HEALTH WALES
CANCER RESEARCH CENTRE
PRIME CENTRE WALES (THE WALES CENTRE FOR PRIMARY AND
EMERGENCY CARE RESEARCH)
NATIONAL CENTRE FOR POPULATION HEALTH AND WELLBEING
RESEARCH
SEE MORE AT:
HTTP://WWW.HEALTHANDCARERESEARCH.GOV.WALES/RESEARCH-CENTRES
INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES
RESEARCH UNITS
• BRAIN REPAIR AND INTRACRANIAL NEUROTHERAPEUTICS
(BRAIN) UNIT
• WALES KIDNEY RESEARCH UNIT
• DIABETES RESEARCH UNIT CYMRU
SEE MORE AT:
HTTP://WWW.HEALTHANDCARERESEARCH.GOV.WALES/RESEARCH-UNITS1/#STHASH.BNQI2OBH.DPUF
INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES
SUPPORT
INTEGRATED APPROACH
3 TRIALS UNITS (SWANSEA, BANGOR, CARDIFF)
ALL WALES RESEARCH DESIGN AND CONDUCT SERVICE (RDCS)
(FROM IDEAS TO GRANT APPLICATIONS)
•
•
•
•
•
CHARTER
HANDBOOK
COMMUNICATION STRATEGY
RESEARCH WORKFORCE EG DISSSECT
SERVICE COSTS
The Social Care Research Review
LEADERSHIP
• HEALTH AND CARE RESEARCH WALES BOARD
MEMBERS
• SENIOR RESEARCH LEADERS (6 IN BANGOR
ETC) ONE SOCIAL CARE IN EACH UNIVERSITY
• INVOLVING PEOPLE
• INTEGRATION ISSUES AND RELATIONSHIPS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
• SOCIAL CARE WALES
• SCHOOL OF SOCIAL CARE
The Social Care Research Review
OTHER MODELS: IRISS
• IRISS IS A SCOTTISH CHARITABLE COMPANY, BASED IN
GLASGOW, WHICH ACTS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO
HOW THE SOCIAL SERVICES WORKFORCE IN SCOTLAND
MAKES USE OF KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH
• IRISS'S WORK IS BASED ON THREE INTER-RELATED
PROGRAMMES (INNOVATION) AND:

EVIDENCE-INFORMED PRACTICE

EG A CHAMPIONS NETWORK HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED
TO FOSTER LINKS BETWEEN IRISS AND SOCIAL
SERVICES WORKFORCE IN BOTH THE STATUTORY
AND VOLUNTARY SECTORS.

KNOWLEDGE MEDIA

EG IN COLLABORATION WITH NHS EDUCATION FOR
SCOTLAND IRISS DEVELOPED A SERIES OF MANUALS
AIMED AT HELPING SOCIAL SERVICES
PRACTITIONERS DEVELOP THEIR INFORMATION
LITERACY SKILLS, AS WELL AS A SIMPLE INTERACTIVE
WEB-BASED INTRODUCTORY TUTORIAL..
The Social Care Research Review
OTHER MODELS MHCC NSW
Example of engagement of the independent sector
The Mental Health Coordinating Council (MHCC) is the peak
body for community mental health organisations in New South
Wales. The Research Grants Program is an opportunity for
NGOs to undertake research relevant to their work with people
with mental health and drug and alcohol problems. There were
two aims:

The main aim of the program was to engage non
government mental health and drug and alcohol
organisations in research projects that would result in
improved services and outcomes for people with mental
health and drug and alcohol issues.

An additional aim sought an increase in the capacity of
mental health and drug and alcohol NGOs to undertake
research.
THE FUTURE
TASK AND FINISH GROUP BRIEF
• SOCIAL CARE TASK AND FINISH GROUP TO IDENTIFY HOW
RDCS CAN SUPPORT SOCIAL CARE IN THE ABSENCE OF A
HEAD OF THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL CARE, DESCRIBE THE
SETTING AND PROVIDE A PLAN FOR GOING FORWARD.
• PURPOSE IS TO
• (A) INCREASE HIGH QUALITY SOCIAL CARE/SOCIAL
SCIENCE RESEARCH AND IMPACT
• (B) DISSEMINATION OF (A)
• (C ) COMMUNICATE SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES TO
THE SOCIAL CARE CONSTITUENCY
The Social Care Research Review
• EACH OF THE MAJOR COMMUNICATION CONDUITS NEED TO BE
REPRESENTED ON THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL CARE BOARD AND/OR THE
RESEARCH ARM OF SOCIAL CARE WALES (INCLUSIVITY).
• SOCIAL SCIENCE/CARE RESEARCH EXPERTS NEED TO BECOME
AFFILIATED TO THE RDCS CENTRES IN SWANSEA, BANGOR AND
CARDIFF, SO THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO POTENTIAL
RESEARCHERS (INCLUDING SERVICE USER RESEARCHERS) DOING
SOCIAL CARE/SCIENCE RESEARCH IN WALES. THIS COULD BE
ORGANISED EVENTUALLY THROUGH THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL CARE.
• THE RDCS HANDBOOK IS EQUALLY APPLICABLE TO SOCIAL CARE AND IT
NEEDS TO BE DISSEMINATED THROUGH THE MAJOR COMMUNICATION
CONDUITS. NOTE THAT IRISS HAS A WEB-BASED TUTORIAL FOR SOCIAL CARE
RESEARCHERS.
• SOCIAL CARE CYMRU SHOULD ADOPT THE RDCS COMMUNICATION
STRATEGY, SUITABLY (MINIMALLY) AMENDED.
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• ALL H&SCC CENTRES AND UNITS NEED TO IMPLEMENT SOCIAL
CARE AND SERVICE USER INVOLVEMENT IN ALL RELEVANT
PROJECTS. EACH CENTRE/UNIT SHOULD HAVE A DESIGNATED
SOCIAL CARE LEAD. (CALLED CHAMPIONS IN IRISS)
• LOCAL AUTHORITIES SHOULD HAVE A DESIGNATED SOCIAL CARE
RESEARCH LEAD (CALLED CHAMPIONS IN IRISS)
• TRIALS OF SOCIAL CARE INTERVENTIONS NEED TO BE FOSTERED
AND SUPPORT BY THE TRIALS UNITS
• SOCIAL CARE ORGANISATIONS NEED TO BE AWARE THAT
PAYMENT CAN BE MADE FOR SERVICE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH
SOCIAL INTERVENTION TRIAL RESEARCH
The Social Care Research Review
WEBSITES
HEALTH AND CARE RESEARCH (CYMRU)
HTTP://WWW.HEALTHANDCARERESEARCH.GOV.WALES
IRISS
HTTP://WWW.IRISS.ORG.UK/
MENTAL HEALTH COORDINATING COUNCIL (NSW)
HTTP://WWW.MHCC.ORG.AU/
HTTP://WWW.CMHDARESEARCHNETWORK.COM.AU/
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES BANGOR UNIVERSITY
HTTPS://WWW.BANGOR.AC.UK/SO/
SOCIAL CARE RESEARCH IN WALES, THE
PAST, THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE
Peter Huxley
Senior Research Leader, Health and Care Research Wales
Professor of Mental Health Research
Centre for Mental Health and Society, School of Social Sciences
The Social Care Research Review
The Social Care Research Review