The WM-ADASS Research Champions are progressing a research study about research mindedness in adult social care in the West Midlands, in partnership with colleagues at University of Birmingham led by Dr Jason Schaub.
The study aims to:
- identify the barriers and enablers for research mindedness to inform future interventions
- map the current engagement in research across the region
- map the understanding and use of research in adult social care in the West Midlands
The study will involve:
- a survey adult social care staff
- a survey of people who use adult social care, including carers
- focus group discusion with adult social care staff and people who use adult social care, including carers
For further information please email: wmadassresearchchampions@wm-adass.org.uk
Survey for ASC professionals in West Midlands now open
As part of the data collection for research mindedness in adult social care in the West Midlands a survey has been launched with a call for participants who:
- work in adult social care: all staff including social workers, social care practitioners, occupational therapists, registered nurses, physiotherapists, managers, and commissioners.
- are employed by a local authority in the West Midlands
- are aged 18 +
You can access the survey using the QR code above or this link https://forms.office.com/e/0B12RktSpL
Survey for people who use adult social care in the West Midlands now open
The research champions have now launched their second survey for people who use adult social care including carers:
You can access the survey using the QR code above or this link https://forms.office.com/e/mCa19dZMVT
If you are not eligible to complete the survey, you could support the research champions by sharing the survey link.
Background
It is widely acknowledged that there is a lack of infrastructure in local authorities for research activity in adult social care. In part, as Chief Social Worker Lyn Romeo acknowledges in her video interview this is an understandable consequence of cuts to the overall funding of social care and a move to focus resources available on the front line.
Where there is research activity taking place across the region, it is variable and un-co-ordinated with some individual practitioners undertaking mostly self-funded research qualifications. Principal Social Workers, who have a practice leadership role within their local authorities, receive multiple enquiries regarding university-based research and are engaging with many of these. This raises a question: can research be driven more directly from local authorities, practitioners in the field and local people with lived experience?
2022 survey Research capacity, capability and culture
In order to inform it's 2022 bid to NIHR for funding for its research programme, WM-ADASS undertook an initial baseline assessment, Research capacity, capability and culture in November 2021. All fourteen local authorities responded, with findings as follows:
- 11 (79%) local authorities promote practitioner access to knowledge and evidence materials via employer subscriptions, universities, libraries etc
- 7 (50%) local authorities offer training and development activity in relation to practitioners undertaking research and/or evidence informed practice
- 7 (50%) local authorities currently have practitioners undertaking study which involves research activity (e.g., BA/BSc, MA, PhD, Professional Doctorate)
- 4 (29%) local authorities have one or more research active practitioners/research roles or champions,
- 7 (50%) local authorities have structures or networks to enable teams and practitioners to discuss and engage with research related to practice, service developments or commissioning
- 11 (79%) local authorities have links or existing networks with universities or research bodies in support of research engagement7(50%) local authorities have mechanisms for reviewing research opportunities before getting involved or a research lead
- 11 (79%) local authorities have been involved in research activity in the past three to five years