Developing research capacity in Mental Health Social Care in England

Introduction – as a neglected field in England, mental health social care (MHSC) has been in a weaker position to develop its evidence base and, hence, in shaping policy and practice development. This is despite the sector holding a social focus, crucial to living a meaning life, and strong traditions of innovating and working with people and communities. Failure to develop research capacity in MHSC means organisations in this vital sector are far removed from research.

Methods – building on the scoping research in a previous presentation, we have been developing the field of MHSC with partners, including people and organisations with lived experience of mental health problems, of being a carer, of frontline practice and of policy making. We have established a network and collectively enhanced the identity and profile of MHSC in policy and research.

Results – We have been co-producing an understanding of the research priorities, challenges and opportunities for MHSC and are now collaboratively address this agenda. We have established an NIHR-funded MHSC Research Incubator as infrastructure to develop research capacity. In this presentation we discuss the shape of MHSC as a system, the strengths and weaknesses and paths to build a stronger field, and the place of the Incubator in this.

Discussion – We have developed a more coherent and shared understanding of the challenges in developing research capacity in MHSC. From this base we can co-produce programmes around the Incubator to help develop capacity.

Conclusion - By establishing MHSC as an identity and network we can better understand the challenges the field faces in developing research capacity, are able to share across the network opportunities for engaging in research that some people and organisations currently far removed from research would not have otherwise known about, and can collaboratively develop this vital research agenda.