Four social care professionals appointed as NIHR SSCR Practice-Based Research Leaders

NIHR SSCR has funded four Practice-Based Leadership Fellows through our pilot call for Practice-Based Research Leaders Awards (PBRLA). Funding of £245,000 has been allocated to support initiatives to develop research capacity within social care practice.

The four award recipients join the School’s growing network of individuals based in social care practice supported through the School’s capacity-building initiatives.

The PBRLA Scheme aims to provide tailored and targeted support for individuals or teams in positions of responsibility who have the ability and influence to develop research skills and/or capacity within their organisations, as part of NIHR SSCR’s aim to improve the evidence base for adult social care practice in England. The Award Scheme is supported by the NIHR Academy and the Department of Health and Social Care.

Practice-Based Leadership Fellows

Appointed through open competition, the inaugural NIHR SSCR Practice-Based Leadership Fellows are:

Ryan Cowley-Sharp, Associate Director – Social Work, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Ryan’s award aims to appoint a research lead to support the Ryan and the Trust to develop social care research within the Trust through training, engagement with research and developing local research partnerships.

Elaine James, Service Manager – Learning Disabilities and Preparation for Adulthood, Bradford Metropolitan District Council
Elaine’s award aims to connect social work research and practice, by co-creating experiential and representational knowledge with neurodiverse co-researchers, including those with learning disabilities, who are experts by lived experience.

Karen Nixon, Principal Social Worker – Older People Physical Disability, Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust 
Karen’s award focuses on developing and piloting a dedicated social care research skills programme, initially for social care staff within the Trust and local authority.

Liza Turton, Consultant Social Worker and Project Lead Manager, Neath Port Talbot Council
Liza’s award aims to develop a research informed practice culture by developing research skills, establishing research champions and incorporating research into local policy and practice tools.

Social care research champions

NIHR SSCR has long championed increasing support for skills development and opportunities to lead or be involved in adult social care research. The PBRLA Scheme was introduced alongside our Development Research Leaders Award Scheme to particularly support leaders based in social care practice to develop research capacity within their teams and/or organisations.

Through these awards, the four award holders become NIHR SSCR Research Champions.

Professor Catherine Robinson, Deputy Director of NIHR SSCR and lead for Capacity-building, said:

“I am delighted to warmly welcome this cohort of NIHR SSCR Practice-Based Leadership Fellows to join the School. The development of research capacity within the social care sector is a priority for the School. The initiatives being taken forward by Ryan, Elaine, Karen and Liza and their colleagues will help build a strong and sustainable practice-based social care research community and embed local research partnerships. We look forward to working with them.”

Professor Martin Knapp, Director of NIHR SSCR, said:

“Supporting the development of research leaders and champions in adult social care practice is critical if we are to encourage evidence-informed practice. I look forward to working with these Practice-Based Leadership Fellows and learning from their initiatives to support future work in this area”.

Further details about these awards will be available shortly.