Developing the evidence base for social work: The importance of practitioner research

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Developing the evidence base for social workThe
importance of practitioner research

• Martin Webber
• Programme Leader
• MSc in Mental Health Social Work with Children
  Adults
• m.webber_at_iop.kcl.ac.uk

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My practitioner research

• Sections 2 3 MHA 1983 require two medical
  recommendations
• Section 4 requires one medical recommendation but
  can only be used in genuine emergencies
• Section 4 is used more frequently in socially
  deprived areas (Hatfield et al 1992, Huxley
  Kerfoot 1993)
• But is this because of individual social problems
  or organisation of services in deprived areas?

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My practitioner research

• ADSS small grants programme for practitioner
  research (2001)
• Financial assistance (c. 1500)
• Structure for undertaking research
• Employer support for project
• Time to do the project
• Use of equipment (computers etc.)
• Academic supervision
• Methodological support
• Mentorship

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Developing new knowledge

• Variables which significantly increased
  likelihood of s.4 admission (in contrast to other
  MHA assessment outcomes)
• substantial risk to health or safety of self or
  others
• diagnosis of bi-polar affective disorder
• low social support
• non-white British ethnicity
• Outputs
• Webber, M. (2002) Social exclusion and use of
  section 4 Mental Health Act, unpublished report
• Webber, M. (2003) High Hurdles, Community Care,
  17 April, 38-39
• Webber, M. Huxley, P. (2004) Social exclusion
  and risk of emergency compulsory admission. A
  case control study, Social Psychiatry
  Psychiatric Epidemiology, 39 1000-1009

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Making a difference

• Practitioner research at its best makes a
  difference to social work practice
• Dissemination to colleagues affects their
  practice
• staff training
• clinical governance meeting auditing practice
• Ultimately benefits service users

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Bridging gaps

• Social work academics are generally not in
  front-line practice
• Research literate and active practitioners can
  bring research findings directly into social work
  practice
• Practitioner researchers can bridge the gap
  between social work academic learning and
  front-line practice

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Promoting academic status of SW

• Social work suffers from a low academic status
  (Green 2006)
• Semi-professional status weakens ability of
  social work to command resources
• Publishing practitioner research in peer-reviewed
  journals helps to promote the academic status of
  social work

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Personal development

• Increased confidence in evidence-based practice
• Respected by colleagues for their contribution
• Can influence practice of other professions
• Creates opportunities for further development
  e.g. research fellowships

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Next steps

• SWET scholarship
• MSc in Mental Heath Social Work with Children
  Adults
• Research Methods Critical Appraisal
• Research Protocol
• Practice Portfolio
• Research Thesis
• E-learning pilots (12 week distance-learning
  courses)
• Research Methods Critical Appraisal (September
  2007)
• Research Protocol (January 2008)

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Thank you

• Martin Webber
• 020 7848 5096
• m.webber_at_iop.kcl.ac.uk