09 Dec 2024Social care faces many challenges.
Still, there is a wealth of expertise across key academic partners in adult social care in London. Until now, there has been limited infrastructure to enable local authorities and social care researchers to learn from one another on using evidence to inform provision.
Our Social Care Learning Network has set out to address this. We're offering social care staff research internships in academia, and offering academics career development fellowships in social care settings.
And today we are delighted to announce our first cohort of fellows. Read more about them below.
“Ultimately, my goal is to ensure that the insights gained from my research contribute to more effective service delivery, commissioning, and policy decisions.”
Dr Michela Tinelli is a researcher at LSE's Care Policy and Evaluation Centre (CPEC). She specialises in the development of data-driven tools to support decision-making in social care.
In her current role, she is collaborating with Crisis – a charity dedicated to addressing homelessness – and local authorities to identify the critical data and outcome indicators necessary for effective service planning, commissioning, and delivery for individuals with lived experience of homelessness.
As part of this collaboration, she is also exploring how the Care Quality Evaluation (CQE) platform for homelessness, which was initially designed to evaluate out-of-hospital care management for people with experience of homelessness, can be adapted to improve decision-making and service delivery.
Michela says:
“I wanted to participate in the Social Care Research Network because it offers a unique opportunity to connect with fellow researchers and practitioners focused on advancing social care. This Network is invaluable for sharing knowledge, building new partnerships, and gaining insights from others working in complementary areas of social care.”
“Through my involvement, I aim to foster collaborations that will help bridge the gap between research and practice. Ultimately, my goal is to ensure that the insights gained from my research contribute to more effective service delivery, commissioning, and policy decisions, with a particular focus on reducing health and care inequalities experienced by individuals who are homeless.”
“I’d like to develop my existing skills, and acquire new ones, with a particular focus on undertaking systematic reviews, evaluation and knowledge mobilisation.”
Dr Sally Nieman is a qualified social worker and currently works for the London Borough of Camden as the lead for social work education. From January, she will start a new role as Programme Manager (Practice Lead) with London ADASS, collaborating with directors of adult social care and other local authority leaders to raise the professional standards of adult social work practice.
She recently completed a part-time PhD. Her small qualitative study, Hidden in Plain Sight: Social work with older people in care homes, explored the personal, professional, organisational, and structural influences on social work practice with older people in care homes.
Sally says:
“As someone working in the local authority with research experience gained through my PhD, I was really interested in the opportunity to be part of the Network and to develop my research skills and gain practical experience through an internship in a research institution. I am passionate about research and particularly interested in exploring how we can bridge the gap between research and local authority social care practice and bring research closer to those it is intended to benefit.”
“I hope that my involvement will provide me with experience of working in a research institution and bring valuable skills and knowledge into local authority social care practice. In particular, I’d like to develop my existing skills, and acquire new ones, with a particular focus on undertaking systematic reviews, evaluation and knowledge mobilisation.”
“I would like to explore the barriers of access for LGBTQ+ people and carers in accessing and drawing on care and support from the local authority."
Stephen Bahooshy currently works in Camden as a strategic commissioner for care and support at home, and informal carers. For his PhD, he explored how gendered assumptions in society may impact the care and support received by residents and their carers.
“I applied for this NIHR-funded opportunity because I believe that social care is best when supported by academia. Being near the end of my PhD journey has allowed me to understand the role research plays in practice whilst also encouraging me to seek further opportunities to improve my research skills.”
“I would like to explore the barriers of access for LGBTQ+ people and carers in accessing and drawing on care and support from the local authority. I will then be able to use this research to inform future commissioning of projects and initiatives to better support LGBTQ+ people in Camden.”
“I have always wanted to pursue a PhD and I am hoping that this experience will give me experience that will aid my application for further studies.”
Doris Mutsando is a Senior Social Work Practitioner/Practice Educator. Her current role is within Procurements and Contracts Team. The role focuses on mentoring community social workers when reviewing high-cost placements to explore where reduction and co-location can be applied.
“Last year I completed NIHR Research with LSE academic partners to understand how 3Cs (Three Conversations model) is experienced by both practitioners and by people seeking and receiving support. After this research experience, I knew that there was more to experience. I also realised that there are not a lot of local authority researchers, so I decided to apply to work with the network.”
“I hope that I will gain insight and further research knowledge. I have always wanted to pursue a PhD and I am hoping that this experience will give me experience that will aid my application for further studies. I also believe that this experience will encourage my colleagues from my organisation to pursue research work.”
“By bringing in the care sector’s perspective, I hope to improve the quality of our findings and help shape policies and practices that truly support young carers, ultimately improving their quality of life.”
Alejandra Letelier, PhD, is a Research Fellow at City St. George’s, University of London, focusing on the long-term impacts of being a young carer in the UK.
With over 10 years of experience in longitudinal data analysis, she has worked with large surveys, including ELSA, Understanding Society, MHAS, and EPS. Her research interests include social determinants of health, life course vulnerability, young carers, social mobility, aging, digital determinants of health, and health and human rights, with the goal of informing policy and support for vulnerable groups.
“As a member of a research team studying young carers, I’m deeply committed to understanding the long-term impacts of caregiving at a young age on well-being, education, and social relationships. What drives me is the desire to produce evidence that informs effective policies and support systems for young carers."
"Joining the Social Care Learning Network is a chance to expand this work, gain a deeper understanding of their experiences, and contribute to meaningful change in the lives of vulnerable young people."
"Through this fellowship, I want to deepen my understanding of the support systems in place for young carers and explore the challenges faced by the care sector. I’m eager to learn more about what happens after young carers are identified and incorporate these insights into my research to make it more impactful. By bringing in the care sector’s perspective, I hope to improve the quality of our findings and help shape policies and practices that truly support young carers, ultimately improving their quality of life.”