Exploring research in homecare services across Kent, Surrey and Surrey
- 14 June 2023
- 1 min read
I’m Kelly Wilson, CRN Kent, Surrey and Sussex Project Manager for exploring research in homecare services. I joined the CRN in December 2022, and previously worked in various roles in mental healthcare including project management with the Sussex ICS, service user and carer involvement and research delivery.
What is homecare?
Homecare describes care that is provided to people within their own homes to help them to live independently. This can include domiciliary care, live in care, end of life care, specialist care and reablement for a range of needs and health concerns such as cognitive decline, dementia, parkinsons, mental health, learning disabilities and frailty. Across Kent, Surrey and Sussex there are over 1,200 homecare providers as well as Personal Assistants and many third and voluntary sector organisations providing services to people within their homes.
What is our aim?
Our aims are to increase awareness and understanding of research across the homecare sector, explore the feasibility of running research studies through these services and develop a research ready toolkit for homecare providers and researchers. With close links to NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex (ARC KSS), we are also looking to develop a wider research framework within homecare around priority setting and implementation of research findings.
What have we done so far?
So far the focus has been on engaging with homecare providers and networks. We have started to build relationships with a number of homecare providers and care networks across Kent, Surrey and West Sussex. We are working to expand the membership of the ARC KSS Homecare Community of Experience, and have set up a project group with homecare providers to help shape this work, and are working to include care workers, clients and family and friends in these groups.
We are also working with researchers at the University of Kent, and have started to explore different research studies that could be supported within the homecare sector.
If you would like to find out more about this work then please email Kelly.
