Research interests
Social work practice is underpinned by a wealth of theory and practice wisdom, but relatively little research evidence. I am interested in developing the evidence base about what works best in social work with people with mental health problems. This requires an understanding of the social interventions that social workers use and research studies including a variety of methodologies, including experimental ones, to evaluate their effectiveness.
My primary interest is in the social context of people’s lives and how this may help or detract from their recovery from a mental health problem. Social workers and other practitioners can support people to overcome social problems and assist their recovery. Research evidence can help them to be more effective in this work by highlighting what works best and what doesn’t.
I am interested in collaborating in the UK and internationally on research within my field. My publications provide an indication of my interests. Please do not hesitate to contact me via my University email or my contact page. Below are some of the projects I’m currently working on.
Connecting People
Social networks provide essential resources for us in our day to day lives, such as support, information about job opportunities or practical assistance. Many people who experience mental health problems have access to fewer resources from their networks than the general population. As these resources can assist recovery, there is a role for mental health professionals in supporting people to connect with others to enhance their social networks.
Using qualitative methods, we investigated health and social care practice in NHS, local authority and third sector agencies to identify how practitioners connect people with others. Through our research findings we developed Connecting People. We then piloted the intervention in 14 community mental health teams and third sector agencies to evaluate its effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. We found that where the intervention model was implemented more fully, participants’ social networks became more resourceful. These studies were funded by the NIHR School for Social Care Research.
I am currently working with Jewish Family Service of Atlantic and Cape May Counties, New Jersey, and with Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust to support the implementation of Connecting People in their services.
More information about the Connecting People Intervention, including implementation and training materials, can be found on the Connecting People website.
SCENE – Enhancing social networks, improving quality of life
I am co-investigator of an NIHR Programme Grant which is evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness through a new structured intervention for expanding social networks of people with psychosis.
SCENE is using a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the quality of life outcomes for people receiving a social contact coach intervention. We are recruiting more than 500 people to participate in the study from across England to help us evaluate if this will help to improve quality of life and frequency of contact with people outside the home.
I am leading the research team at the University of York working with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust and Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
More information about SCENE can be found on the study website.
International Centre for Mental Health Social Research
I am Director of the International Centre for Mental Health Social Research in the Department of Social Policy and Social Work at the University of York. This is a small research centre which collaborates internationally on studies applying social science to mental health research.
We are currently undertaking a collaborative project in Kerala, India, funded by the UK-India Education and Research Initiative. This is exploring a potential role for social workers in supporting the management of co-morbid chronic disease with mental health problems.
The project is in its final stages and some earlier posts about the project can be found on this site.
The Routledge Handbook of Social Work Practice Research
My latest book is the Routledge Handbook of Social Work Practice Research, edited with Lynette Joubert.
Published in 2020, this brings together leading scholars from across the world in the first international handbook to focus on practice research in social work. Its 39 chapters provide an up-to-date overview of the latest thinking in practice research whilst also providing practical advice on how to undertake practice research.
The handbook is aimed for social work students, practitioners and academics as well as those working in other health and social care settings who are interested in practice research.
Research presentations
Here are some examples of research presentations I have given:
MIDEX workshop on mixed methodologies: Qualitative and/or quantitative methods, 2021