Professor Robin Miller and Dr Caroline Jackson (Social Care theme) have been collaborating with research partners in Europe and Canada to understand how people with lived experience of health and/or social care can influence the development of integrated care. The first report from the research is now available for download: Citizen Leadership & Integrated Care ReportLink opens in a new window

Our Social Care theme, in partnership with BASW (the professional association for social work and social workers), have published a report on leadership and social work in the UK. It is now available to downloadLink opens in a new window.

A recent evaluation looked at the use of pulse oximetry (which uses a portable device to measure blood oxygen saturation level) in care homes during COVID-19. An infographic has been produced by the research team, showcasing the findings of the evaluation, and can be viewed at: arc-wm.nihr.ac.uk/news-events/latest-news/brace-pulse-oximetry.pdfLink opens in a new window.

Sharanya Mahesh, Research Fellow University of Birmingham

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on adult social care services. With the enforced closure of services, such as day centres in the community, and the emergence of new priorities due to the pandemic, local authorities have been required to introduce and adapt to new ways of working so that they continued to support people meaningfully.

Working with the West Midlands Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (WM ADASS), the Social Care theme of ARC WM have produced a report examining the impact of the pandemic on strengths-based practice. Document analysis on nine practice reviews undertaken between October 2020 and September 2021 form the basis of the report. Since their introduction, practice reviews have become an integral part of the peer challenge programmes led by the WM ADASS. Analysis of the reviews highlighted some positive and negative impacts on strengths-based working, and also brought to light the impact of the pandemic on staff who were at the forefront of demonstrating strengths-based practice.

ARC WM is leading the Public Involvement in the ARC National Priority on Social Care and Social Work. The first, important stage was to understand the landscape for public involvement in Adult Social Care and Social Work. We completed a scoping exercise that would be used to inform future ways of working in partnership with people who access Adult Social Care Services.

We are now delighted to publish the report from the scoping exercise - available here.

The objectives from the scoping exercise are set out below:

• To understand current involvement, activity, and networks of those with lived experience of adult social care in the ARCs.
• To understand the scale and scope of the existing national social care research networks and within national programmes such as the School for Social Care Research.
• To gain the views of stakeholders within the ARCs and existing national networks regarding how best the Public & Community Involvement, Engagement & Participation (PCIEP) can add value in social care research.
• To understand the accessibility and diversity issues regarding user engagement/ co-production in social care research.

ARC WM will now take forward the recommendations of the report on behalf of the national consortium – we do hope that you will be interested in engaging with us again as developments progress.

For more information, please contact Prof. Robin Miller: r.s.miller@bham.ac.uk