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The issue of spiritual care is enshrined within both health and social care policy in Scotland. Both sectors often struggle to meet these needs. This impact case study relates to two unique initiatives arising from the research of Swinton that have sought to address this gap in knowledge and practice. The Kairos Forum for People with Intellectual or Cognitive Disabilities has focused on putting academic research into practice for issues relating to spirituality and intellectual disabilities. The Community Chaplaincy Listening Project has taken chaplaincy provision and spiritual care and extended it into the community. Together these initiatives have contributed to better practice in relation to healthcare (especially relating to mental health) and the lives of people with disabilities, for the NHS, churches and social care.
Primary research with people with multiple sclerosis and their carers, led by Brunel, has had positive impacts on service user and government organisations internationally; research has improved practice in relation to the nature and effect of self-management strategies of people with Multiple Sclerosis, as well as enhancing therapy for the condition and raising awareness of the needs of carers. The research has shaped evidence-based guidelines, consensus papers, reports and policies, which have in turn enhanced the effectiveness of professional practice and service delivery. Through developing the evidence base and sharing best practice the research has resulted in improved health and welfare benefits for people with multiple sclerosis and their carers.
The CAMHS team at the University of Northampton have built expertise in CAMHS research that have regional, national and international impact, which has had an influence on regional practice in CAMHS, and through our training initiatives, has had an international reach. A key national priority for mental health service development and delivery for children has been widening access to the service to enable better interaction between specialist and universal services — enabling ease of referral, preventative mental health work, and a smoother experience of service provision for young people entering CAMHS. Expertise at Northampton builds on research evaluating the use of Primary Mental Health Workers (PMHWs) in Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) and with LAC (LAC), as well as research on professional training for mental health professionals more broadly. This research highlighted the importance of joined up working at the interface of primary and specialist services, to young people's access to mental health services, and to increase the responsiveness and appropriateness of these services in meeting young people's needs. Impact includes training of CAMHS workers, through both CPD initiatives and a Masters programme in CAMHS which has trained professionals from the UK and EU, as well as professionals from India and several African countries, who have used this expertise in CAMHS and primary care contexts around the world.
The Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU) at the University of Manchester (UoM) has run a programme of research examining community care of older people since 1996. The findings have informed key government decision-making around two important national policy initiatives between 2008 and 2013: (1) the development and implementation of Personal Budgets in Social and Health Care and (2) National Strategies to improve Dementia Services. This has affected the national provision of social care for older people and other adult social care users. In 2011-12, there were over 1.2 million people in England receiving social care affected by these policy changes (over 800,000 aged 65+), with a cost of £6,600m spent on their care (NHS and Social Care Information Centre).
Quality of care for the increasing numbers of frail older people is an issue of international concern. Led by Professor Meyer at City University London, in partnership with Age UK and Dementia UK, My Home Life (MHL) is a collaborative movement of people involved with care homes for older people. It was established to improve the quality of life of everyone connected with care homes for older people and has become the recognised voice for the sector. The original underpinning research and ensuing projects all focused on knowledge translation, in particular the factors that enhance quality improvement in care homes. MHL actively works with care homes to progress quality improvement and share the lessons learned throughout the system. The programme has had a significant impact on both policy and practice in health and social care, influencing Government policy and supporting practice improvement across national and international borders.
Elevated blood glucose levels — the hallmark of diabetes — is estimated by the World Health Organization to be the third leading cause of premature death globally. Around 4 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with diabetes; their treatment accounts for 10% (£10 billion) of NHS expenditure. Self-management strategies and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle are fundamental to the treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Since 2008, Leicester's Diabetes Research Centre has developed, evaluated, disseminated and implemented a range of programmes based on a technique called structured education. The flagship DESMOND programme is run in over half of all clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), affecting thousands of people with newly diagnosed T2DM. The Walking Away prevention programme has been widely implemented in the UK, Ireland and Australia. These programmes are the only nationally available evidence-based structured education programmes for the prevention and management of T2DM.
This case study describes the reach and significance of research conducted by members of the interdisciplinary Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts & Health. The examples below focus on the impact of singing as a health and wellbeing intervention for adults within clinical and non-clinical populations. The research has shown that singing has had a beneficial impact on individuals and influenced fields of professional practice in health and social care in the UK and US, service delivery in the UK, and policy development in the UK through the work of the Royal Society for Public Health.
Research on the economic case for interventions to prevent mental illness, to address mental health needs and to promote mental wellbeing has been conducted by the Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU) in the LSE Health and Social Care group with demonstrable impact on government policy in England and beyond. Research has influenced preparation of the National Dementia Strategy for England and the Prime Minister's Challenge on Dementia; underpinned the establishment of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme; and generated part of the evidence base for the emphasis in the 2011 English mental health strategy on promoting mental health and preventing mental illness. The work has also influenced discussion led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and European Parliament.
Research by Professor Les Mayhew and Professor Ben Rickayzen at City University London on the question of how the public sector and the private market might jointly establish a better way of funding long-term care for the elderly has influenced policy thinking and development within the Treasury, the Department of Health, the Dilnot Commission, the actuarial profession and among ministers and parliamentarians. Evidence is provided here that shows that their research on population ageing has had an impact at the highest levels in Whitehall. In addition, Mayhew's work on integrated health and social care for Brent Council has helped to transform services at local level and provides a model that could be replicated more widely.
King's College London (KCL) researchers developed and disseminated the Camberwell Assessment of Need (CAN) which provides a scientifically rigorous and flexible approach to assessing the mental health and social needs of people with a wide range of disorders. Mental Health services around the world are striving to increase the patient-centeredness of their care. The CAN supports this needs-led care planning to help transform mental health policy and practice. KCL work has resulted in CAN being the most internationally recognised and researched assessment tool available. The CAN is widely used in mental health policies and locally adapted versions are routinely used in clinical practice within both statutory mental health services and nongovernmental organisations in the UK and around the world.