Tuesday, 04 Oct 2022 | Funding Deadline
The NIHR funds policy research to enable evidence informed policy making in health and social care. The following funding opportunities are open for application:
Evaluation of the 10-year drug strategy investment in the treatment and recovery system in England
‘From Harm to Hope’ is the UK government’s 10-year drug strategy, which is built around three strategic priorities (1) to break drug supply chains, (2) to deliver a world class treatment and recovery system, (3) to achieve a generational shift in demand for drugs, and sets out a whole-system approach to tackling illegal drug use, and reducing drug-related harm, death and crime in England. The ambition to build a world class treatment system will be delivered through the Treatment and Recovery (T&R) Portfolio. The PRP Programme invites applications for a single research project to design and deliver the evaluation of the Treatment and Recovery Portfolio. The portfolio includes six key strands of work, with a number of programmes within each.
Screening for gambling-related harm within mental health and drug alcohol services
The PRP Programme invites applications for a single research project to look at the feasibility of routine screening for gambling-related harm within mental health and drug and alcohol services. The overarching need is for research to facilitate understanding of the appropriateness of mental health services and drug and alcohol services in England for identifying, referring, and treating people experiencing harmful gambling.
Variation in pay in adult social care and relationship with workforce and outcomes
The PRP Programme invites applications for a single research project to investigate variations in pay and reward in the adult social care workforce. This research should consider the following questions: (1) What pay and reward systems are used across adult social care? (2) What skills-based and experience-based pay systems are used? How do these link to progression of staff? (3) How much of the variation in models and systems of pay and reward is explained by local authority (LA) background factors and variation in LA fees? (4) What are the underlying causal drivers for differences in pay and reward in the sector? (5) Are some models of pay and reward linked to positive outcomes for the workforce, such as improved retention or more developed skills?
Mixed methods evaluation of Adult Social Care workforce reforms
The PRP Programme invites applications for a multi-phase research project to evaluate adult social care workforce interventions as set out in the People at the Heart of Care: Adult Social Care Reform White Paper. This research project will fund: (1) a development phase to consider methodological approaches as well as existing and planned data sources to identify a robust study design to answer the research questions of interest; (2) a main study to be conducted following the development phase.
Evaluation of trials to test innovative early years workforce models
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) are investing £10m in trials which test and evaluate innovative early years workforce models, which incorporate a skill mix in order to deliver universal and universal plus Start for Life services in a small number of local authorities. The Department of Health and Social Care therefore invites proposals for a single research project to design and deliver the evaluation of trials of early years workforce models. This is a significant opportunity to support the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme in its aim to improve the experience of families during the 1,001 critical days and the early years, and build a robust evidence base which will inform commissioning decisions which ensure the early years workforce is effective and families are supported.
Understanding the Missing Links: Integrated Health and Social Care for People Experiencing Homelessness
In March 2022, NICE published its guideline ‘Integrated health and social care for people experiencing homelessness’ (NG214) which includes recommendations on ways to improve access to, and engagement with, integrated health and social care services for people experiencing homelessness. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Programme (PRP) invites applications for a single research project to complement the recommendations made in this guidance and support its implementation. This includes understanding the causes of, and barriers to, effective commissioning and delivery of wraparound health and social care services for people experiencing homelessness, and effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of longer contact times with health and social care services for people experiencing homelessness. NICE identified evidence gaps and made specific recommendations for research. This bid looks to progress these recommendations. There is high potential for such research to be impactful due to the dearth of evidence that is currently available.
Understanding the implementation of Healthy Weight Coaches role in the weight management system
The PRP Programme invites applications for research to understand the implementation of the Healthy Weight Coach (HWC) programme; patients’ experiences; and to consider what makes an effective conversation with a HWC. The aim of the HWC programme is to increase the number of adults who enrol on a weight management service from primary care. The role of a HWC is to help adults living with overweight or obesity who are interested in improving their health and wellbeing by supporting and motivating them to prioritise their weight. Research is required to understand how the new HWC programme has been implemented at a local level; patients' experiences of having conversations with a HWC; and which components of a conversation with the HWC are most effective at supporting the patient to reach their goal. The research should consider how the HWC role works from both the system and patient perspective.
Impact of Out of Home Calorie Labelling on people with lived experience of eating disorders
The PRP Programme invites applications for research to understand the impact of the Out of Home (OOH) Calorie Labelling Regulations on people with lived experience of eating disorders. The research should consider how the implementation of the law could take into account the experiences of this population. Research is required to understand the impact of the OOH calorie labelling on people with lived experience of eating disorders. A review of existing research is required to understand the mechanisms which underpin eating disorders.
Evaluation of reforms to the Mental Health Act
The PRP Programme invites applications for three research studies to contribute to evaluation of reforms to the Mental Health Act (MHA). The MHA reforms are a large government programme, which will be implemented over a long timescale both through legislation and operational changes from NHS England, other healthcare providers, the police, local authorities and the Care Quality Commission. Evaluation will be necessary so that all partners in this programme can adapt policy implementation, guidance and supporting measures. Three studies are proposed to help inform implementation of the reforms and lay the groundwork for further evaluation in the future.
Deadline for proposals: 4 October 2022