The Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex (ARC KSS) this week (29 September) hosted its latest research symposium - showcasing five projects funded to help improve health and care services for people in the region, including: parents with learning disabilities; 16-25 year olds who access mental health services; people accessing palliative care services, primary school children accessing speech and language services and dementia patients.
Chaired by Victoria Hare, Programme Manager for ARC KSS, the 2022 Autumn Symposium: Spotlight on Research agenda included presentations from researchers and clinicians, from Universities, NHS Trusts and the voluntary sector.
The presenters included awardees of:
The ARC KSS Individual Development Awards (IDAs) - Investment in Future Research Leaders, who are developing research leadership skills through conducting a small scale applied health or social care research project:
- Dr Anna Cox from the University of Surrey and working with the Elfrida Society - gave an overview about her work on The Together Project, aimed at understanding and improving support for parents with learning disabilities.
- Dr Jo Bayly from St Barnabas Hospice, presented her research project on the planning for future care for people accessing palliative care services.
The ARC KSS Individual Development Awards (IDAs) - Springboard, which provides dedicated time across six months for clinicians to build their skills and take forward their research ideas:
- Nandami Maharaj-Munro from Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, talked about her project that looks at understanding the role of non-medical prescribers in dementia services.
- Alys Mathers, from East Kent Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, gave an overview of the scoping review she is currently undertaking on the roles and relationships of speech and language therapists and teaching staff in primary schools.
Devyn Glass, ARC KSS Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, also presented a project, supported by ARC KSS. The Transfer of Care Audit looks at the 16-25 Mental Health Pathway to inform a new pathway that will support young people leaving children and adolescent mental health services.
