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HomeSchool for Business and SocietyResearchSocial Policy Research UnitOur researchThe Curiosity Partnership

The Curiosity Partnership

To develop and evaluate a regional capacity building network: facilitating greater understanding, use and production of research in adult social care. 

SPRU research team

External collaborators

University of Sheffield
Professor Joanne Cooke, Professor in Research Capacity in School for Healthcare
Dr Jon Burchell, Senior Lecturer in Management

University of Hull 
Professor Joe Cook, Professor in Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources Management

University of York
Helen Weatherly, Reader in Health Economics, Centre for Health Economics

Newcastle University
Dr Phillip Whitehead, Associate Professor, Social Work Education and Community Wellbeing

Collaborators include those involved in both planning and delivering adult social care (and other key stakeholders). 

The Partnership

Involves four local authorities
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council, Hull City Council, City of York Council, North Yorkshire County Council
Funder
Funded by the NIHR Health Services & Delivery Research (HS&DR)
Timescale
From 1 June 2020 to 31 May 2025

Watch our short animation to find out why you should join us on the journey. 

https://youtu.be/ODw69hEDATg?si=jLaGGfNaD2MapSpG

Background

Social care does not receive the same investment in research as health care and other allied services. There are fewer opportunities for research training and funding, and a misconception that social care could not benefit from research in the same way as the NHS. In turn, social care staff generally do not feel as able to reach out for evidence, or engage in evidence creation for the benefit of practice. Universities and local authorities, working together with the wider sector and local citizens, have an opportunity to address local priorities with a new research partnership.

The Research Partnership 

Over the next four years, a number of Universities and Local Authorities across Yorkshire & Humber are coming together to build research for the benefit of older people receiving social care. The Partnership will have a number of linked strands, including:

  • Work to identify local research priorities
  • Communities of Practice to lead local research agendas and build evidence-informed practice
  • Each local authority partner having a Research Champion who will help to make sure research is supported and to help to build a more research confident community.
  • Opportunities for secondments, placements, pump-priming research ideas, PhD study and more;
  • A Research Academy to share and build research skills.

Evaluation

The partnership will be subject to an ongoing evaluation based on the research capacity development for impact (RCDi) framework. This will enable us to better understand the success of the network in improving research capacity.