“People with lived experience bring research to life”: Social care experts on the importance of relationships in research

Experts from across the field of social care came together at Health and Care Research Wales’ tenth annual conference for a plenary panel on how research in this area can impact policy and practice. 

Chaired by Dr Diane Seddon, Reader in Social Care at Bangor University, the panel brought together Professor Donald Forrester, Director, CASCADE Partnership, Rachel Scourfield, Head of Knowledge Mobilisation, Social Care Wales and Professor Paul Willis, Director, Centre for Adult Social Care (CARE). 

All three agreed that one of the most fundamental factors in delivering impactful research is developing long-term, effective relationships with those involved.  

Opening the discussion, Professor Forrester explained how rewarding it had been to see the positive impact of one particular project in practice: 

Involving others with lived experience is key throughout designing, developing and sharing research. Really good research that makes a difference depends on developing these sustained relationships. 

“The partnership’s looked-after children’s education project grew from close engagement with the sector. Listening to and working with children and young people was at the very heart of the project. It has since led to policy changes that have changed children’s lives.” 

Professor Willis agreed, referencing a project involving implementing smart technology for people living in supported accommodation. Working with housing association residents, they developed a handbook which then informed housing design process. Prof Lewis said, “It’s so important to have the right stakeholders around the table and engage with them at an early stage. These people are often “experts by experience” and bringing together and aligning their input makes for more impactful work.”  

All three agreed however that building – and more importantly, maintaining – these relationships can be challenging. Rachel Scourfield explained one of the biggest barriers: time.  

A previous funding award gave her protected time to devote to research, alongside working as a social worker, an opportunity she would like to see made available more widely. Rachel said, “We often see research culture driving by passionate individuals, rather than embedded. We need to open the door for more people to be involved in research.” 

Professor Willis agreed the structure of the funding landscape can also create challenges: “When funding ends, it can feel like a “cliff edge”, but continuity and maintaining relationships so as not to lose voices of certain groups is so important. 

People listen differently to a person with lived experience. They bring the research to life. If research is built on these sustained relationships, research is better, more relevant and more meaningful.” 

Professor Forrester agreed, emphasising the value of CASCADE Partnership’s core funding to support their Public Involvement officer and so hold on to these sustained relationships. This was evidenced later on during the conference, when CASCADE’s Parent Research Advisory Group were presented with this year’s Public Involvement Award.  

Rachel Scourfield said the next step would be to make research more accessible to increase its impact: “Language is really important. Research needs to be meaningful to the people it is going to help. Making research more accessible through things like evidence summaries means people will use it more and it will therefore have a greater impact on policy.” 

For the full programme, please visit the conference page.