Dr Dawn Jones  Improvement Cymru

Pathways to Impact… 

We hear a lot about ‘impact’ within Higher Education, but ‘research impact’ means a specific thing in terms of the Research Excellence Framework.  

Impact is defined as “an effect on, change, or benefit to the economy, society, culture, health, public policy or services, environment, or quality of life beyond academia” (REF, 2021). 

Notably, to be classed as ‘impact’, any effects, changes, or benefits must be measured and evidenced, otherwise, how do we know there was really an impact, and whether it was positive? 

Our researchers conduct some excellent work in ‘the real world’, engaging beneficiaries and working with external, interested parties. Most research has the potential to be impactful, which always starts with a well-considered impact and communication plan, robust research project conducted with integrity, and then evidence of executing pathways to impact by using the research findings. 

Dr Dawn Jones and Improvement Cymru  

Dawn has established a meaningful and long-term relationship with Improvement Cymru, Public Health Wales, which is part of the Quality, Safety and Improvement directorate of the NHS Wales Executive. This organisation works to embed all-Wales improvements into quality and safety of the Welsh health and care system. By working with this organisation, Dawn’s work has the potential to influence standards within the country’s healthcare system. 

Serendipity played a role in the success of this story (as is often the case!): Dawn was forwarded an email by her line manager, which outlined the proposed research project tender. The tender was for a researcher to conduct a comprehensive literature review looking at models and principles of care for children and young people with learning disabilities in Wales. Although Dawn’s primary research area is not learning disabilities, the work was a good fit for a sociologist interested in injustice and promoting positive change. Sometimes, there are good opportunities to take up that don’t exactly fit your area – but it’s great experience and a chance to develop networks and make a difference.

Based on the literature review report produced by Dawn, a collaborator at Improvement Cymru wanted to explore some of the findings further and subsequently found another pot of money for Dawn to continue the work in this area. One key area in the report was that parents and carers were rarely heard, which laid the foundation for a further study conducting primary research with the carers and parents of children with learning disabilities. Dawn crafted a proposal and submitted this to Improvement Cymru, referring to the strong rationale based on the literature review report, and was awarded another pot of money. 

The initial report and the second report based on the research project findings from interviews and focus groups with parents and carers were well received by these groups, and also professionals in the area. Alongside a second report, Dawn presented at two Community of Practice conferences in Wales, where many interested and relevant parties attended. Based on this dissemination, Dawn suggested to her Improvement Cymru collaborator that it would be a good idea to next speak to professionals who work with families to explore their experiences and opinions about what is working well, and what needs improvement. 

Once again, another study was commissioned based on the previous report’s findings; Dawn found that parents and carers had consistently revealed frustration and anxiety around what they saw as a lack of ‘joined up’ working by professionals, which seemed in contrast to the Government’s vision of ‘seamless services’ provision for children with learning disabilities. More money was awarded as Improvement Cymru were eager to maintain momentum with the research gaining interest and traction from the community. The final project is looking at the experiences of professionals from health, social care, and education across Wales who work with children and young people with learning disabilities. 

Improvement Cymru plan to showcase Dawn’s three projects at an event, and Dawn is writing the findings up into journal articles to share with the academic community. 

 Rebecca Curtis, Senior Improvement Manager at Improvement Cymru said: 

“Findings will be shared with Regional Partnership Boards across Wales, and other multi-disciplinary forums and communities. The long-term purpose of the projects is to promote the findings so there is a clearer understanding of what works well, and where there might be gaps in services”.  

As research impact tends to be a slow process, it is vital to maintain awareness of how your findings are used and what changes are made based on your research. As Dawn’s research is coming to an end, we will follow these pathways to impact to understand how Improvement Cymru implement the research findings, and follow the outcomes of any implementation, which hopefully, will be positive!