https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-staff-standards
[The NHS staff standards set national minimum employment requirements to improve staff experience, outlining employer actions and what staff can expect.]
Freely available online
Co-production involves people coming together as equals to make decisions and create services that work for them. This new co-produced resource supports anyone interested in planning, running, or evaluating a co-production project. It outlines the definitions, celebrates the approach, and explores how projects can aim for the highest levels of co-production.
The tool is grouped into four key stages of co-production:
Developed from work with adults’ social care, the core principles can be adapted to support practice with young people and more.
The resource is most effective when used to support reflection by all involved in a co-production project – including members of the public, practitioners, researchers, or managers.
Find out more: How to practice effective co-production | Research in Practice
This research looks at what makes care outstanding. In 2021, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) – the independent regulator of health and social care in England – started a major programme of change. Three independent reviews in 2024 and 2025 found serious problems with the way CQC put the changes into practice (Care Provider Alliance 2025; Dash 2024; Richards 2024). As a result, CQC is now rebuilding its approach to regulation. This includes developing 4 sector specific assessment frameworks.
Freely available online
The rising number of older adults, many with long-term conditions or limitations in activities of daily living, is expected to increase demand for social care services and for housing options to accommodate their future care needs. Additionally, an increasingly diverse population may require care models that respond to different preferences, beliefs and values. This study aims to explore how preferences to meet future care needs vary across demographic, socioeconomic and care-related factors.
Freely available online
Dear all,
New Article: What supports evidence-informed practice in social care?
Earlier this year, Research in Practice conducted a small number of focus groups to hear from professionals in a range of roles about what supports them to use evidence in their practice.
We heard excellent examples of how professionals at all levels were supported and enabled to use Research in Practice resources to support learning and development.
In this new article, Lorna Trend shares key findings from these conversations, highlighting how the use of research and evidence can have a positive impact on practice with children, young people, families, adults, carers and communities.
New Workshops: Artificial intelligence-enabled practice in social care
This full-day workshop is designed to:
This workshop is aimed at: Frontline practitioners across Children’s and Adults social care, practice supervisors, practice leaders (including PSWs and service managers) and CPD teams.
This webinar is relevant for: Occupational Therapists (OT) (adults services); Adult social care managers for local authorities; and Health leaders in areas where there is a collaboration between health & the local authority for service delivery of adult OT services. In late 2025, an English local authority commissioned the Institute of Public Care (IPC) to support them to understand more about effective models for OT within adult social care responsibilities.
Online
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
