The latest LSCFT Research bulletin is now available to view and download. Some articles are freely accessible however others may require an Open Athens account. If you are having issues accessing the articles, please get in touch with the library team: academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk
LSCFT Research Bulletin by Katie Roper
Research in practice work with and for professionals within social care, health, criminal justice and higher education to offer resources, learning opportunities and expertise. Anyone with a Trust email can sign up to start accessing their resources.
Research in practice brings together: research evidence, practice wisdom, and lived experience. Turning this into practical, accessible resources and learning opportunities that fit real‑life professional needs. [researchin…ice.org.uk]
At its heart, Research in Practice is about equipping professionals with the confidence and tools to use evidence well. Take a read of how one of our colleagues reflects on the similarities and differences of working in the NHS and local authority settings:
Evidence-informed practice in NHS settings | Research in Practice
A new research article from the NIHR Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme reports on the first year of the RIPEN network in the North East and North Cumbria. The project aimed to build stronger palliative and end-of-life care research collaboration across health, social care and hospice settings.
The work brought together patient and public partners, NHS trusts, universities and local organisations to create a research culture that supports inquiry, sharing of knowledge and future funding success. Activities included seminars, training events, collaborative workshops and support for early career researchers.
The evaluation found that these efforts helped establish new connections, shaped research proposals and built momentum for continued development in this important area of care. This collaborative approach has created a strong foundation for ongoing research that aims to improve quality of life and experiences at the end of life for people and families.
Read the full article here: Developing palliative and end-of-life care research partnerships in the North East and North Cumbria: A report on the first year of the RIPEN network | NIHR Journals Library
The UK government’s August 4, 2025 update on clinical research makes notable progress in streamlining trial delivery via the UK Clinical Research Delivery (UKCRD) programme. Major highlights include:
Read the full update from the Department of Health and Social Care here: Transforming the UK clinical research system: August 2025 update – GOV.UK
Institute for Government (IFG); 2025.
Examining the care gap in England. The provision of adult social care by local authorities in England should, in theory, be based on an individual’s need and ability to fund their own care. But this is not what is happening in practice.
There exists a damaging geographical and demographic ‘care gap’ in England that means access to care for older adults is increasingly based not on need but on other factors – some perhaps less surprising, like local levels of deprivation and disability, but some more so, like the number of older people who live in an area.
That this nationwide variation is not new should not excuse the government from action. That it has grown and may well continue to grow as the over-65 population of England outpaces that of all other age groups makes that action more urgent.
But to act well government needs to better understand the problem and how and where this care gap is forming and is at its most extreme. This is what this report, the latest in our Performance Tracker Local series supported by the Nuffield Foundation, seeks to help it do.
Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST); 2025.
What investments and actions are required to create a sustainable health and social care workforce?
Key issues discussed included:
The King’s Fund’s latest Social Care 360 report examines the state of adult social care in England, highlighting funding shortfalls, workforce shortages, and access challenges. While spending has risen, it hasn’t kept up with demand, leaving many without vital support. The report provides a crucial overview of where the system stands and what needs urgent attention.
Read more: Social Care 360 – The King’s Fund
Source: The King’s Fund
The health and care system is under intense pressure, with rising waiting times, persistent workforce shortages and patients struggling to access the care they need. As a result, patient and public satisfaction with services has dropped significantly, prompting debate and discussion about the future of health and care services. In the context of what can feel like a heated political and media discussion, the King’s Fund have taken five myths that sometimes feature in this debate and debunked them.
Source: The King’s Fund
This plan for digital health and social care sets out a vision for a digitally enabled health and social care system and how it can be achieved. It collates existing digital strategies, plans and guidance into one single action plan. It is aimed at health and social care leaders across the system, and industry partners to help them plan for the future. The document aims to outline clear priorities for digital transformation, and begins to set out the support that will be available to local systems to enable the changes that are needed.
Source: UNISON
This report is based on a survey of nearly 3,000 social workers across the UK. It aims to shed light on the working conditions of social workers, and limitations on the help they are able to give vulnerable families. Staff shortages, unmanageable caseloads and long hours are identified by social workers as major concerns affecting their ability to do their jobs. More than three quarters of social workers said they had experienced increased stress levels and 77 per cent of respondents were worried about their mental health due to the pressure they’re under. Seven in ten also said morale has decreased and almost half said they’re now less likely to stay in their jobs.
