NIHR ARC West receives funding to build social care research capacity

Social care research capability in the West of England has received a £260k boost from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Awarded to NIHR’s local Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West), the award is helping develop research capacity in children’s social care in two local authorities.

The funding  award builds on ARC West’s successful ConnectED study, which started the process of creating a research culture in adult social care. The study focused on developing a research practice partnership with Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care System. The model included funding and support for a practitioner evidence champion, a social care researcher-in-residence, and a user and carer advisory panel.

The new funding will see a similar model being applied in the children’s social care teams at Gloucestershire County Council and Bristol City Council, informed by insights from ConnectED.

Senior Research Associate David Troy has just started working at ARC West as researcher-in-residence at both local authorities. Each local authority will also have a researcher champion practitioner to develop a research culture and drive forward the research agenda.

Sabi Redwood, Acting Director at NIHR ARC West, said:

“There is a significant gap between the need for research in social care, and the capacity to deliver it. This funding aims to close that gap.

“The ConnectED model has successfully developed communities of practice within adult social care teams. We are delighted to now be able to build on this model in children’s social care, in both Bristol and Gloucestershire.

“We hope that this work will directly benefit under-served children and young people in contact with social care.

“We look forward to working with our local authority partners.”

David Troy, Senior Research Associate and researcher-in-residence, said:

“I’m very much looking forward to working with our social care colleagues to apply research evidence to their most pressing challenges to improve the lives of children in care.”