Our work:
Improving health and social care
Why this research:
We have participated in a series of meetings with public health and social care practitioners, providers and members of the public to identify local research priorities.
Subsequent discussions with public health and social care directorates (Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire) and with Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust have led to shared research goals (see workstreams below) regarding community health and social care across the Thames Valley.
Theme Lead
Workstreams in this research area:
Supporting carers of individuals with cognitive impairments or dementia
A family safe-guarding model to protect vulnerable children
Care and support planning for long term conditions.
Dance to Health: a falls prevention dance programme for older people
Outcomes-based service development
Building more capacity for social care research in the region.
Team members
Projects in this theme
A Family Safe-Guarding Model to Protect Vulnerable Children
Evaluating Oxfordshire County Council’s shift towards a family-centric safeguarding model to enhance the overall support system and reduce the need for child care interventions.
Implementation of the Better Outcomes for Older People with Spinal Trouble (BOOST) Programme into NHS Practice
The BOOST programme, proven to enhance mobility and reduce fall risks for older people with spinal stenosis, is being implemented into NHS practice to ensure wider availability and improve patient outcomes through enhanced pain management and exercise adherence.
Evaluation of the PROSPER Online Learning Course
Assessing the effectiveness of the PROSPER online course in training physiotherapists to implement a shoulder rehabilitation programme for breast cancer survivors.
Improving Access to the SARAH Exercise Programme for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Through an Online Course
Evaluating the effectiveness of an online SARAH programme course designed to enhance hand function for rheumatoid arthritis patients by providing accessible home-based exercises.
Improving Activity-Based Social Prescribing
This study investigates the role of physical activities in social prescribing within UK primary care, aiming to enhance understanding of their effectiveness and the involvement of link workers and health coaches, with the goal of improving health outcomes through non-clinical community services.
Social Capital Development to Address Loneliness through Community Support: A Scoping Review
This scoping review assesses how community initiatives contribute to building social capital and reducing loneliness, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of social prescribing practices and improve public health outcomes related to social isolation.
Supporting Local Commissioners in England to Commission New Models of Care
This project develops a prioritisation framework to support local commissioners in England in making evidence-based decisions for commissioning new models of care, using public values and routinely collected data to enhance healthcare efficiency, equity, and patient outcomes.
Improving Health and Care for Physically Unwell Care Home Residents
Exploring community-based alternatives to hospital admission for care home residents to enhance care and reduce distress through the use of Virtual Wards in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire.
Developing Novel Methods to Capture Health and Well-Being Outcomes of Community-Based Support: Testing Moodscope with Vulnerable Families
The project investigates Moodscope's ability to evaluate the health and well-being impacts of community activities, particularly through a pilot with caregivers involved in art groups, aiming to enhance communication on emotional states and validate the tool's effectiveness in capturing mood variations in vulnerable populations.
DEcision-Making support Model for whole-pathway dementia workforce COMMissioning (DEMM-COMM)
This project is developing a comprehensive health economic model for dementia care to help UK commissioners make informed workforce investment decisions, improving care and reducing inequalities.
Clinical benefits of the Oxford Brain Health Centre pathway compared to the routine memory clinic pathway in psychiatrists’ confidence for diagnosis and management of memory disorders
This project compares the Oxford Brain Health Centre pathway with the traditional memory clinic approach to see if it boosts psychiatrists' confidence in diagnosing and managing memory disorders, potentially improving patient care and influencing future practices.
The prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms and caregivers' distress at the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment and dementia, along with associated factors.
This study explores the prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients at the point of diagnosis with mild cognitive impairment or dementia and examines the associated distress levels in their caregivers, aiming to inform better support strategies.