Public Health and Health Research

We were commissioned by Sandwell Council to undertake a Review of Lived Experience Mechanisms/Effectiveness in Sandwell and of the wider recovery support available.

The review had the aim of judging the level of involvement and recovery support available. This was especially within the context of the Government’s most recent drug’s strategy ‘From Harm to Hope’ which includes the desire to increase user involvement in services. 

The central component of the research was undertaking a series of consultations with people with lived experiences of substance use. We consulted with a range of local stakeholders to gain their views on the current state of substance misuse provision in Sandwell and opportunities for development. We also spoke with representatives from organisations in a range of other areas identified from our literature review.

The final report contained analysis of relevant data and models of practice along with outlining a number of barriers and themes. These were identified especially from the consultations with those with lived experiences. It then moved on firstly to assess the current situation locally against the ladder of engagement before moving onto recommendations which could be adopted to move higher up this ladder incorporating a number of models for enhancing lived experiences and practical measures which could improve support provided. 

All these had the aim of developing local policy and practice.

We undertook a review of domestic abuse services in Falkirk which incorporated an extensive analysis of a variety of datasets relating to need and usage, assessment of delivery models from elsewhere along with an extensive consultation programme. 

The consultation programme included service providers and commissioners but was primarily comprised of service users to capture their lived experiences. The review had an aim to develop options for a future sustainable service model for domestic abuse services in the borough. 

The services and need examined included those for female, male and LGBT victims of domestic abuse including those who have experienced sexual violence. A cohort approach was followed to ensure that specific issues were uncovered. Additional cohorts explored included leaving care, learning difficulties and substance misuse. The consultation programme deployed a range of methods to ensure that service users/victims were comfortable in providing their experiences. These methods included a variety of face-to-face consultations, facilitated questionnaires undertaken by trusted service provider staff, on-line surveys and the use of case studies.

A range of datasets were examined including that from service providers outlining the usage of services and Police data.

The final report examined current services comprising shortfalls highlighted including via the data analysis. We made recommendations for a future service framework which incorporated the priorities expressed from the consultation programme along with those relating to the strategic infrastructure to support this service implementation. The recommendations related to a wide range of service requirements including prevention and early intervention, referral pathways, crisis response, recovery, self-help and perpetrator management.

 This review entailed undertaking an analysis of data relating to domestic abuse demand and levels across the city. This review had the aim of developing a new domestic abuse strategy for the city. The data reviewed included a wide range of quantitative data such as incident data, victim and offender information and service data including financial information. A range of analyses were undertaken including assessing trends, comparing Liverpool with similar areas, identifying changes in need and demand and exploring data drivers for demand and risks.

We also carried out a wide range of consultations with service providers/commissioners, victims and perpetrators. These consultations gathered views and opinions on current services and gaps in provision.

The review included specific recommendations relating to improving data collection and management along with key findings that will be used to shape domestic abuse services and pathways in the future.

We were commissioned by Bury Council and partners to undertake the refresh of the borough's Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA). The main aim of the JSNA refresh was updating both the datasets the previous version contained along with identifying priorities highlighted from the analysis. Principally this document highlighted health and wellbeing needs that emerged since the previous JSNA, trends that continued to be of concern and provided analysis from datasets that have subsequently become available.

The contract involved the sourcing of a wide range of datasets covering health, lifestyle, work, environment, deprivation, crime and education. Datasets examined exceeded the Department of Health guidance for JSNAs. We undertook extensive analysis of these datasets identifying linkages between them and highlighting areas of concern. This analysis included an extensive process of identifying health inequalities in particular relating to protected characteristics as laid out by the Equality Act.

The process included the use of an on-line forum to enable stakeholder views on the datasets and emerging priorities to be shared. Upon completion of the JSNA we provided a presentation on the key findings to a meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board. A copy of the report can be found here: click here

In 2014 we undertook a contract for LB Merton Public Health and Merton's CCG to develop their Healthy Weight Strategy. In addition we developed service specifications for a variety of their healthy weight services.

This process involved consultations with key stakeholders, document and data reviews of both local information along with examples of good practice from elsewhere and a reality checking workshop.

The service specifications developed were for the Tier 2 Children's and Adult Weight Management Service along with elements of the Tier 3 dietetics service. The specifications included service pathways incorporating a single point of referral.

The strategy incorporated a variety of themes designed around life-courses. They included a focus upon reducing inequalities and the desire to influence wider environmental factors influencing healthy weight.

We were commissioned by Manchester's Joint Health Unit to undertake an evaluation of Manchester's funded condom distribution schemes.

The evaluation had a number of purposes. These included evaluating the current distribution methods, determining the extent to which local mechanisms are effective in distributing condoms to priority groups, considering whether these mechanisms were fit for purpose and whether they represent good value for money.

A key requirement of the evaluation was to recommend cost-effective and evidence-based models for future condom distribution ranging from current funding levels through to a potential reduction of 30%.

The evaluation informed commissioning of condom distribution from April 2011 onwards.

We undertook a needs assessment for Birmingham Drug and Alcohol Action Team which focused on identifying the specific needs of carers/family members of substance users.

This health needs assessment including making judgements of the current services across the city. It was used to inform the planning and commissioning process. In particular it assessed whether specialist substance misuse carer services were required to complement existing provision.

We followed our four stage model of undertaking applied needs assessments namely measurement, mapping, assessment and reconfiguration. We undertook an extensive review of data, covering demographics, project monitoring and service data, surveys of both service providers/commissioners and service users, qualitative interviews and workshops. The review include a series of viable options for service reconfiguration.

The review has been used to shape the strategic direction of carer services in the city with several of our service options being implemented.

Working on behalf of the trust we undertook a brand awareness survey. This focused on ascertaining the extent to which staff, commissioners, service providers/partners and members of the public were aware of the 'CWP' branding and associated strapline. The survey also examined awareness of mental health services and delivery locations across the area.

In order to maximise the response rate the questionnaire was made available in both a postal format and as an Excel electronic version. All data was analysed using SPSS and presented to the Partnership in a user-friendly format with confidence interval calculations at the 95% confidence level provided.

We repeated this survey a year later measuring the changes in awareness from the baseline.