UEAHSCP appoints new Research Director Partnership Funding Scheme Winners Announced Partnership Research Informs New Digital Skills Course for Foster Carers
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WELCOME TO THE WINTER 2022 EDITION OF TOGETHER MAGAZINE
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR - RESEARCH DIRECTOR CARRIE JACKSON I am delighted to have been appointed to the role of Research Director for UEA Health and Social Care Partners for the next two years to help support the next phase of its development with health and social care partners across the East of England. Acting as a catalyst for embedded place based research, evaluation, innovation and improvement, the partnership will transform its existing operating model to build capacity and capability for high quality practice led work that: Places the citizen at the centre of research focused on what matters most to people; Shares and cascades best practice; Responds to and produces robust evidence to support improvements in care and services; Informs policy development; Supports workforce development, systems leadership and culture change; Delivers on Integrated Care System transformation priorities to improve population health; Creates opportunities for collaboration for the greater good of all people involved. Supports sustainable research career pathway development for the region. Over the next six months we will be working to embed new collaborative partnerships and ways of working that will offer a stronger consultancy model for partners. In the meantime in this edition of Together I am delighted to be able to signpost you to a wide range of innovative work that is happening across our region……
In Our Winter Issue: Partnership Funding Scheme Winners Announced.........................................................................................p.4 Our Growing Team...................................................................................................................................p.6 UEAHSCP Research Informs New Digital Skills Course for Foster Carers .......................................p.8 World Cancer Day: Shining a Light on Support for Carers.................................................................p. 9 Eastern AHSN Blog: 3 Ways Healthcare Can Better Collaborate for Better Outcomes .................p.9 EAHSCP Teams Up with Medical and Health Humanities Network to Host Online Event Looking at Practitioner Mental Health....................................................................................................................p.10 Join Point of Care 3D Printing for an Exciting Hybrid Workshop ....................................................p.10 Catch up on the latest webinars.............................................................................................................p.11
Acting as a catalyst for embedded place based research, evaluation, innovation and improvement, the partnership will transform its existing operating model to build capacity and capability for high quality practice led work.
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PARTNERSHIP FUNDING SCHEME WINNERS ANNOUNCED A host of leading researchers have been awarded funding from UEA Health and Social Care Partners, designed to boost collaboration across local health and social care research and innovation. UEAHSCP announced our first-ever ‘Power of Collaborative Research' Strategic Fund last year, inviting applications from projects undertaking joint research that benefits our region’s healthcare services. The funding will provide a launchpad for researchers to develop ideas that can help tackle the most pressing challenges facing local health and social care services, with a particular focus on projects that align with our core research themes: young people’s mental health and wellbeing, healthy ageing, and living with long-term conditions - while also driving local recovery from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic . The funding scheme demonstrates UEAHSCP’s commitment to investing in research in these areas as a strategic priority.
READ THE PRESS RELEASE IN FULL HERE
PAGE 6 | Q3 2021/22 UEAHSCP
Prof Charles ffrench-Constant, Pro-Vice Chancellor for UEA’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, and UEAHSCP Executive Board member said: “The aim of the Strategic Fund is to grow research collaboration across our partnership. “We particularly wanted to focus on improving young people’s mental health, healthy ageing, and living with long-term conditions. “These areas were identified as key issues for people in Norfolk, Suffolk and North East Essex and we are committed to investing in research in these areas as a strategic priority. “Our work in these areas has been impressive in the short time that the partnership has been in existence, but we are committed to growing collaboration and achieving greater impact in these areas,” he added.
THESE AREAS WERE IDENTIFIED AS KEY ISSUES FOR PEOPLE IN NORFOLK, SUFFOLK AND NORTH EAST ESSEX AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO INVESTING IN RESEARCH IN THESE AREAS AS A STRATEGIC PRIORITY. PROF CHARLES FFRENCH-CONSTANT, PRO-VICE CHANCELLOR UEA FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCE
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PARTNERSHIP FUNDING SCHEME WINNERS ANNOUNCED Grants ranging from £5,000 to £25,000 have been awarded following a competitive process. The four projects to receive a share of the £75k funding are: ANSWERS, led by Dr Jon Wilson from Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust in collaboration with UEA, will see researchers work with young people to better understand how they have been affected by the pandemic. The results will be fed back to local mental healthcare systems to inform positive change in policy and strategy
Click the images below to watch a video about each project:
A scheme to set up a 3D-printing service to produce surgical equipment tailored to individual needs, in one of the region’s hospitals, as well as setting up an offsite research and development 3D-printing suite. It is hoped that this project, led by Prof Sheng Qi of UEA’s School of Pharmacy, could help patients receive treatment more quickly and help reduce costs within the NHS. A project to co-produce interventions supporting multiple behaviour change in socially deprived communities, led by Prof Wendy Hardeman of UEA’s School of Health Sciences. It focuses on the ‘big four’ behaviours: unhealthy diets, smoking, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol consumption. Service users, practitioners, researchers and policy makers will identify best practice and reach consensus on promising interventions. It is hoped that healthcare practitioners and others who support multiple behaviour change are better able to reach those who can benefit the most, use evidence-based approaches, and empower people to make positive changes for their health and well-being. A project to improve care for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), led by Dr Max Yates of UEA’s Norwich Medical School, which will bring local data together to provide new insights into the provision of social care and improve support services. Social care data are often missing or poorly archived when considering care delivered by informal care givers. This leads to an incomplete picture when assessing the care needs of patients with RA. By harnessing data, this project will deliver a uniquely important resource for understanding the care needs of patients now and in the future.
Thank you to everyone who submitted an application for last year’s round of our Strategic Programme Funding. We'll be profiling these projects further throughout the year as they kick off - watch this space!
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OUR GROWING TEAM
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e’re delighted to welcome Carolyn Jackson, known as Carrie, to UEA Health and Social Care Partners in the new role of Research Director. In this role, Carrie will lead UEAHSCP’s broad programme of health and social care research, evaluation and innovation related to our strategic priority areas identified as key issues for people in Norfolk, Suffolk and North East Essex: improving young people’s mental health, healthy ageing and living with long-term conditions. Carrie said, “I am very excited to be joining UEA Health and Social Care Partners and look forward to working with colleagues to continue to enhance the capacity and capability for transformational research that is clinically led and makes a real difference to the people living in the East of England”. Carrie joined UEA in September 2020 as full time Director of UEAHSCP’s newly formed ImpACT Research Group which focuses on workforce and systems transformation. Over the past 18 months, she has worked with colleagues to deliver a range of initiatives that integrate research, practice development, innovation and education to support system transformation in health and social care through strong partnerships. Most recently, Carrie has enjoyed a period of working with colleagues in the Eastern Academic Health Science Network to support evaluation research. Carrie has an established track record for strong multiprofessional partnership working and entrepreneurship. She was founding Director of the England Centre for Practice Development (ECPD), which she established with her colleague Professor Kim Manley CBE in October 2011. She has led a number of complex research, consultancy and innovation projects in the field of leadership, culture change, improvement and transformation in the UK and internationally.
Prof Charles ffrench-Constant, Pro-Vice Chancellor for UEA’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, and UEAHSCP Executive Board member said: "I’m so pleased that Carrie will be leading UEAHSCP’s research portfolio. Carrie brings an impressive and diverse range of experience and leadership in health and social care research as well as an ambitious record of driving successful targeted innovation. Carrie’s unique blend of strategic nous and skilful research management will build upon UEAHSCP’s success. “Carrie will oversee UEAHSCP’s existing collaborative research programme and will develop new research strands to address the most pressing health challenges in our region, as well as continue to be a champion for the Faculty’s positive and inclusive research culture." Carrie took up her new post at the start of January 2022. Follow Carrie on Twitter @IPDCarrie or connect with her on LinkedIn.
Pictured: Carrie Jackson
“I am very excited to be joining UEA Health and Social Care Partners and look forward to working with colleagues to continue to enhance the capacity and capability for transformational research that is clinically led and makes a real difference to the people living in the East of England."
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OUR GROWING TEAM
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e are also delighted to welcome Bianca Bianchi to UEA Health and Social Care Partners in her new role as full-time Projects Administrator. Many of you will already know Bianca from her previous role as Clerical Assistant in UEA’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, where she provided exceptional day-to-day administration of our research groups. In her newly created role, Bianca will continue to closely support our researchers with project coordination and event facilitation, working alongside Projects Officer Joe Fitzsimmons to ensure accurate record-keeping of project activity. Bianca will manage contracts and key HR tasks across the partnership, and will serve as Secretary to our Governance boards. Bianca said “I’ve been supporting UEAHSCP since its establishment in 2019, and it’s been a pleasure to help the partnership grow and flourish. I’m excited to take on new responsibilities and challenges in this expanded role, helping to drive our impactful research and innovation.” UEAHSCP Research Director Carrie Jackson said “Bianca has already been invaluable in supporting our growing partnership, its research groups and administrative processes. Bianca joins the team at an exciting period of expansion and further strategic development across the East of England. Please join us in wishing her a very warm welcome.” Bianca took up her new post in January 2022. Pictured: Bianca Bianchi
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UEAHSCP INFORMS NEW DIGITAL SKILLS DR SIMONRESEARCH HAMMOND FEATURED IN THE PRESS COURSE FOR FOSTER CARERS
Fostering Digital Skills - online learning course LANTERN group lead Dr Simon Hammond's research has informed a new training course launched by Internet Matters and The Fostering Network, which aims to empower foster carers to support children in their care, stay safe online, and enjoy the opportunities the digital space has to offer. The UEA version of the release is here The course is available here Coverage in parenting and specialist press: Learning Disability Today - 'New training course for carers to help keep young people safe online' The Parenting Daily - 'UK foster carers provided with new training to help keep children safe online' Wellbeing News - 'New training course for foster carers helps keep children safe online' My Family Our Needs - ‘We can, we must, we will: connectivity and young people with additional needs
Children’s Mental Health Week – NSFT Podcast interview Dr Hammond was interviewed by Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust’s Claire Mortimer for NSFT’s podcast Mental Health and You. The episode ‘Research: LIMITLESS enthusiasm’ focused on Dr Hammond’s LIMITLESS study which examines life story work as a possible intervention to address the mental health needs of children and young people with experience of being ‘looked-after’. Listen to the podcast episode on Apple Podcasts or Acast. Further information on the launch of LIMITLESS can be found here on UEA’s website.
Children’s Mental Health Week – BBC Radio
About Dr Simon P Hammond: Dr Simon P Hammond is a leading Lecturer in Education in UEA's School of Education and Lifelong Learning Honorary Associate Professor at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. He leads the Looked After Children’s Mental Health Research Network (LANTERN) within UEA Health and Social Care Partners (UEAHSCP).
LANTERN focuses on implementing early identification and prevention measures to facilitate positive mental health, and is aiming to produce accessible psychological interventions for young people living in care. The group works together to assist young people and their carers to
Press interest around Children’s Mental Health week saw Dr Hammond feature in the media several times on subjects, including how to foster digital resilience in children & young people, and life story work.
better identify and support their emotional wellbeing and
Dr Hammond was interviewed by BBC Radio Norfolk and his comments were featured across more than 20 regional BBC radio station broadcasts.
leading organisations, including The Fostering Network
You can listen to the snippet here (listen in from 1:17. Released on 08 Feb 2022 and available for 23 days).
mental health needs.
Dr Hammond has forged strong national links with and Internet Matters.
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SHINING A LIGHT ON SUPPORT FOR CARERS On World Cancer Day, we featured University of East Anglia’s Professor of Palliative Care Research Morag Farquhar showcasing a new evidence-based resource that helps carers supporting someone with breathlessness. ‘Supporting Someone with Breathlessness’ is described on the website as: ‘a source full of help and advice made for family and friends of people with breathlessness. It has been carefully made with a range of experts including health professionals, health researchers and people just like you, who have cared for someone with breathlessness.’
Pictured: Prof Morag Farquhar
The resource has been linked to from the NHS UK website which provides information and guidance on shortness of breath.
THE WEBSITE RESOURCE IS AVAILABLE HERE
"Family and friends supporting people with cancer need support too – both in their role as a carer and for their own health. We have developed a resource to help carers supporting someone with breathlessness due to cancer, based entirely on what these carers told us they needed support with."
Prof Morag Farquhar
Professor of Palliative Care Research, UEA School of Health Sciences
3 WAYS HEALTHCARE CAN BETTER COLLABORATE FOR BETTER OUTCOMES
READ CARRIE'S BLOG HERE
In a new blog published on Eastern AHSN, our Research Director Carolyn Jackson and Sophie Castle-Clarke, Principal Advisor at Eastern AHSN consider why boundary spanning, innovation and creativity are critical to enabling health and care partners to achieve better outcomes for patients.
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PRACTITIONER MENTAL HEALTH EVENT UEAHSCP TEAMS UP WITH MEDICAL AND HEALTH HUMANITIES NETWORK TO HOST ONLINE EVENT LOOKING AT PRACTITIONER MENTAL HEALTH UEAHSCP held an online event in early November, partnering with the Medical Health Humanities Network. “Exploring practitioner mental health in the time of COVID-19: Do the medical & health humanities have a role to play?” was chaired by Arts PVC Sarah Barrow, and featured several high-profile speakers from across regional health and social care and the humanities, including CCG representatives and Performance Poet Piers Harrison-Reid. More than 200 registrants heard from the following speakers across a range of clinical and arts expertise: Piers Harrison Reid, Performance Poet and Accident and Emergency Nurse Bella Eacott, Research Manager at Performing Medicine Laura Drysdale, Director of The Restoration Trust Kristy Sanderson, Chair in Applied Health Research in the School of Health Sciences, UEA Anna Morgan, Director of Workforce, Norfolk and Waveney Health & Care Partnership Eylem Atakav, Professor of Film, Gender and Public Engagement, UEA Karoline Pelikan, Documentary Filmmaker The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted an urgent need to explore how we can support the mental health of practitioners working in health and care settings. Pre-pandemic research demonstrated that practices drawn from the Medical and Health Humanities can build empathetic clinicians, increase teamwork, and reduce practitioner burnout (see ‘Boundaries of Humanities: Writing Medical Humanities’, Arts and Humanities in Higher Education, 7:2, pp. 131-148). This well received interactive online event considered the opportunities and challenges associated with using the arts and humanities in medicine and healthcare.
LAST CALL - MEDICAL PRINTING WORKSHOP On March 3rd, UEAHSCP researchers are running a Multidisciplinary Medical 3D Printing Service for Regional NHS Hospitals Workshop, aiming to bring together regional NHS clinical specialists and UEA researchers with external clinical and technical experts in setting up and running hospital 3D printing services, and to initiate the discussion on developing a pioneering regional point of care 3D printing service. To find out more, and to register, click here. (registration closes 28 February, please email ueahscp@uea.ac.uk to query registration after this date).
HURRY! REGISTRATION CLOSES 28 FERUARY
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CATCH UP ON THE LATEST WEBINARS
Catch up on the latest webinars from our ImpACT research group Our ImpACT research group’s webinar series, Reinvigorating Health and Care Systems, explores COVID recovery and workforce transformation. Watch experts within the field discuss learning cultures and systems integration for sustainable person-centred practice. The series builds upon their previous series on the Venus Model for Person Centred Sustainable Transformation. Contextual Readiness for Transforming Learning Disability Services Leading Sustainable Change at Scale - International Insights
Change to Practice and Policy: A Theory Driven Approach to Implementation
QUIT SENSE WEBINAR AVAILABLE NOW
Members of our Changing Behaviour and Implementing Best Practice research group spoke at an online seminar where they shared their key findings in a public dissemination event for their Quit Sense smoking cessation study. Check this flyer for further details: Quit Sense Findings Event The recording of the event is available to watch on demand here.
How can we work together? With an established network across health and social care organisations within Norfolk, Suffolk and North East Essex, UEAHSCP makes it easier for you to do more research and innovation with clinicians and health and social care professionals. The Partnership’s focus is on increasing collaboration to improve care and support to both service users and professional staff. Membership includes clinicians, academics, health and social care professionals, service user representatives and associates. Get in touch to see how we can work together ueahscp@uea.ac.uk.
Our partners East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust NHS Ipswich and East Suffolk, NHS West Suffolk and NHS North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Groups NHS Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Norfolk County Council Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust The Queen Elizabeth King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust University of East Anglia West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
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