Implementation

Implementation is a core function at ARC KSS. To make sure that our research is relevant and implementable, we have co-developed our themes with key stakeholders.

These themes are recognised as priority areas of need within the region’s health and social care system. The views and thoughts of those accessing or delivering health and social care services are also placed at the heart of our research. This ensures that our research activities address the needs of our population, including under-served groups, across Kent Surrey and Sussex.

The Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex (Health Innovation KSS) supports the Implementation focus of the ARC KSS and is led by Dr MaryAnn Ferreux, Implementation Lead at ARC KSS and Chief Medical Officer at Health Innovation KSS.

The implementation team:

• Uses people’s (users of services and frontline staff) stories to develop research questions that address locally recognised needs. This improves the implementation of our research findings by making them meaningful to the needs of our population.
• Works with system leaders and budget holders from the start to align priorities and needs, engaging leaders in the work we produce.
• Understands relevant research, studies, projects, innovative practice, existing models of care and their evidence base - what works, and what good looks like locally, nationally, and internationally.
• Feeds back and disseminates our findings to provide challenge and inform our research activities locally and nationally.
• Prioritises a number of key research outcomes (evidence-based interventions) and actively supports their implementation.
• Supports local researchers to disseminate findings and information from activities that meet our criteria of co-design, robust research methodology, and evidence of impact.
• Improves health and social care outcomes to the public by implementing and integrating research activity, outcomes, and new models of care that:
  • are recognised by end users as needs and priorities and co-produced with them
  • improve quality and safety
  • are evidence-based
  • reduce unwarranted variation
  • are cost effective and sustainable.

Download the NIHR ARC KSS Implementation Strategy