Call for social care practitioners to help direct research of the future

Ahead of the launch of the £1.5 million Research Funding Scheme: Social Care Grant, Health and Care Research Wales is calling for social care practitioners from across the country to help decide which life-changing social care research questions are most important.

As part of the funding call, all applications must be reviewed by the All Wales Prioritisation Panel (AWPP) a large and virtual panel consisting of public and practice assessors.

What is the role of an All Wales Prioritisation Panel member?

Assessors are asked to review the importance of the proposed research to patients, the public and policy makers and use their knowledge and experience as social care practitioners on the front line to provide feedback.

Key responsibilities

Members of the panel will review from one - 10 research submissions and provide written feedback, digitally on the most appropriate research questions to progress.

Who are we looking for?

Interested social care practitioners will need to have at least four years’ experience and currently work within the social care sector in Wales. We welcome expressions of interest from those working in all aspects of social care from a range of backgrounds, levels of experience and seniority. A diverse panel will provide a voice to those who this investment will affect.

Previous funding calls have enabled life changing research into; how looked-after children engage online, how the environment in and around the home impact social care and health outcomes for older people and the Welsh community response to child criminal exploitation.

Professor in Public Health and Psychiatry at the Swansea University Medical School, Ann John sat on the All Wales Prioritisation Panel in 2019.

She said: “I decided to sit on the panel as I wanted a say in where this public money is spent to help people across Wales. There’s obviously a limited pot so it’s important to have a diverse panel of people from all areas of expertise giving advice.

“I can remember seeing a study I fed back on about people with learning disabilities being reported and it was such a good feeling to know I had a small part on making that research happen - which will hopefully influence change and improve lives.”

Michael Bowdery, Head of Programmes at Health and Care Research Wales, said “The AWPP is an ever-growing virtual panel who undertake remote reviews of applications, their feedback is essential in making sure we’re investing in the most appropriate research that will have a meaningful impact.”

How to apply?

To register your interest, please complete this online form or for questions please email Wales@soton.ac.uk.