Chief Investigator: Dr Jenelle Clarke

The aim of the study is to explore how, and to what extent, everyday interactions promote or hinder integrated working.

The study sponsor is the University of Kent

Study Summary

The aim of the study is to explore how, and to what extent, everyday interactions promote or hinder integrated working.

Interactions can include activities such as meetings, informal conversations and/or clinical group discussions.

Bringing together services is often when different agencies, such as mental health and social care, join up to coordinate care around patient needs.  This is sometimes referred to as ‘joined up’ or ‘integrated care’.  However, bringing together services can be very difficult.  Different organisations and teams operate differently, and there can be confusion, and sometimes tension, around who will do what, who will pay for it, and who has access to certain types of information.  Staff and service users/carers often try to resolve these difficulties through meetings and visits. Unresolved challenges can result in poorer patient care.

This study looks at what it is like to deliver and receive joined up care in children and adolescents and older people services - where inter-professional working is essential.  It focuses on how different groups of people come to trust each other and work collaboratively through everyday encounters and interactions.  This will enable a rich and in-depth analysis of challenges and solutions to inter-professional working, helping improve integrated care services.

The study will involve four linked work packages (WP):

WP1 - Observations, semi-structured interviews, and staff reflections on their experiences of integrated work.

WP2 - In collaboration with Healthwatch Nottingham & Nottinghamshire, semi-structured interviews with carers, and where appropriate, service users.

WP3 – Existing staff participant survey – pilot and evaluation.

WP4 (staff and service users/carers from WPs 1-3) – working with teams and Healthwatch Nottingham & Nottinghamshire to coproduce workshops for participating sites, carers, and where appropriate, service users.

You could be eligible to take part if you are:

• Over the age of 16 with the ability to give informed consent.
• A staff member of an integrated team within children and young people services or older people services OR
• A service user of integrated care within children and young people services or older people services OR
• A carer of a service user within children and young people services or older people services.

Planned end of recruitment: 31/05/2024

For further details please contact Paula Brown, Research Delivery Officer This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.