SSCR Career Development Award Alumni
My role as Assistant Dean of the Social Work Learning Academy (SWLA) and Research Lead within Midlands Partnership University Foundation Trust (MPFT) encompasses strategic and organisational decision-making linked to frontline social care practice. As a leader within MPFT I have been instrumental in driving the development of a social care research infrastructure both within the organisation and across the region. My aims are to further develop my own research experience, to promote wider practitioner engagement, and to increase the impact of research within social care environments.
The objective of the award was to develop and pilot a social care research skills programme that will have content that covers the full scope of research skills but within a format acceptable and relevant to social care. This work aimed to complement an overall ambition to engage and build research capacity within social care. The research skills programme ‘Supporting The Advancement of Research Work AcRoss Social care’ (STARWARS) has the potential for upscale and use regionally (via social care and research partnerships partnerships and links with West Midlands ADASS, West Midlands Social Work Teaching Partnership, and Applied Research Collaboration West Midlands) and potentially have reach and influence nationally.
Karen’s research interests include:
Support mechanisms to enhance quality and to enable wellbeing within social care practice
The use of assistive technology within social care environments
Physical and mental ill health experiences (adults)
Support mechanisms within social care (citizen experience)
