1. 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

2. 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

3. 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.

4. The Social Care Research Review
PHASE 1
The review of the literature accessed major databases (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.

5. 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).

6. 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)

7. 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.

8. The Social Care Research Review
Conclusion 3: There is support for the enhancement of social care research capacity in academic and practice settings in Wales

9. The Social Care Research Review
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.

10. THE PRESENT Networks Support Leadership
The Social Care Research Review
THE PRESENT
Networks
Support
Leadership

11. 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:

12. Infrastructure changes research units
Brain Repair and Intracranial Neurotherapeutics (BRAIN) Unit
Wales Kidney Research Unit
Diabetes Research Unit Cymru
See more at:
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13. 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

14. LEADERSHIP Health and care research wales board members
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

15. 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..

16. OTHER MODELS MHCC NSW Example of engagement of the independent sector
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.

17. 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

18. 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.

19. The Social Care Research Review
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

20. WEBSITES Health and care research (cymru) IRISS
The Social Care Research Review
WEBSITES
Health and care research (cymru)
IRISS
MENTAL HEALTH COORDINATING COUNCIL (NSW)
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES BANGOR UNIVERSITY

21. 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

22. The Social Care Research Review

23. The Social Care Research Review