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Social work is about making a positive difference to the most vulnerable in society. Since 2008 Bournemouth University's (BU) research-based continuing professional development (CPD) programmes have improved practice for 6,170 health and social care professionals. During this period CPD has taken place in 28 NHS Trusts, 96 Local Authorities and 39 independent, voluntary and private sector organisations. Nurses, social workers, managers and educators have all developed professionally from the self-reflective approach, demonstrating increased confidence and improved management abilities. Evaluations of the effectiveness of post-qualifying social work education are scarce. BU's evaluative method has confirmed the value of this CPD and its impact on the practice of individual health and social care professionals and their organisations.
Research conducted at the University of Manchester (UoM) has shaped the design of national systems of accreditation for general practice in the UK, Europe and beyond. Accreditation systems set standards that reflect key aspects of the organisational systems and processes in general practice that are needed to ensure delivery of good quality care. Accreditation systems also provide a kite mark of quality assurance and act as a platform for supporting continuous quality improvement. UoM developed indicators of quality in general practice structure and organisation and demonstrated how they could be used effectively to improve quality. Working in partnership with health professional organisations, governmental organisations and other universities, UoM used knowledge from the research to develop systems for general practice accreditation now used in the UK and across Europe.
Adult Social Care (ASC) is a growing sector which currently employs 1.6 million care workers and benefits 1.8 million care recipients. Research carried out by Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) into the recruitment, development and retention of ASC workers has had a direct impact on ASC policy, management practice and human resource (HR) practice.
In the area of health, welfare and public policy, the primary research impact was on the Adult Social Care Recruitment and Retention Strategy 2011. Among ASC managers and HR practitioners, the research findings informed and stimulated debate over the conduct of ASC work and the benefits of good HR practice.
Research into understanding and addressing the gaps between evidence and practice in health care has been conducted and applied at the University of Manchester. Working within the Department of Health funded National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) for Greater Manchester, research teams have applied an evidence-based approach to knowledge mobilisation to improve the identification and management of two vascular related conditions: impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). As a result of the initial pilot projects in Greater Manchester 1863 new CKD patients have been identified with the success leading to a further implementation programme that has spread to other areas of the UK. The IGT pilot project has directly led to the improved health of targeted patients in two areas of Greater Manchester.
Life for those who have had a stroke across England has been improved through assessment of their needs six months after their stroke, followed up with support so that these needs are met. The assessment tool used was developed at the University of Manchester using knowledge from applied research into knowledge translation and service improvement, which emphasised the need for tailored, context-sensitive approaches to implementation of evidence. The flexible assessment tool (GM-SAT) that can be used by a range of practitioners is now in use across England in a range of providers, enabling the fulfilment of national strategy and improved care for these patients.
Research at the university of ulster into the theory and practice of person-centredness has resulted in:
i. the development of person-centred practices that lead to better outcomes for patients, staff and teams.
ii. the influencing of policy for the development of person-centred services.
Improving patient experience of health services is a policy priority worldwide. The University of Manchester (UoM) has conducted research on patient experience since 1995, leading to the development of a series of validated measures for assessing patient experience of quality of care in primary care, including access to care and the degree to which services are patient-centred. Our measures have been in routine use in the NHS since 2004, sent to samples of several million patients. The data have been used to provide incentives for the highest quality practices, and to inform policy makers about current care throughout the UK.
The research has led to the design of a new clinical pharmacy service model, centred on community pharmacies, to improve the care of patients with palliative care needs living in the community. This resulted in better provision of information for patients (and their carers) and new training resources and staff development opportunities for the multi-disciplinary palliative care team. Funding has been secured to rollout the new service across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board (NHS GGC - 1.2M population) in 2013. The research has also supported a successful bid to explore the service model in a remote and rural Health Board (NHS Highland) and has informed specific programmes of Macmillan Cancer Support UK, pharmacy workforce planning, and the Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacists initiative.
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.
Research by Community and Health Research Unit (CaHRU) broadly impacted on healthcare provision and care received by patients from ambulance services. The research directly informed policy and was a key factor in improving prehospital care for emergencies by directly influencing care systems, regulators, ambulance services, paramedics, and service users, initially in the East Midlands and subsequently throughout England from 2008 onwards.
The research which aimed to improve quality of ambulance care led to: development of new clinical quality indicators for ambulance services in England; benchmarking of service quality; initiatives to address gaps in care; measurable improvements in managing pain, heart attack, stroke, asthma and diabetes across all English ambulance services. Regulators now use these quality indicators to assess ambulance trusts in England.