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Who are we? Professor Alison Richardson Director Professor Catherine Bowen Deputy Director Our theme leads Dr Stephen Lim Ageing and Dementia Theme Lead Professor Nisreen Alwan Healthy Communities Theme Lead Professor Mari-Carmen Portillo Long Term Conditions Theme Lead Professor Michael Boniface Workforce & Health Systems Theme Lead Our central teams Philippa Darnton Implementation Lead Dr Michelle Myall Principal research and implementation fellow Dr Corine Driessens Principal Research Fellow (Statistics) Richard Trowbridge Chief Operating Officer Professor Catherine Bowen Academic Career Development Lead Ngianga II Kandala Principal Medical Statistician Rachael Hartup Senior Programme Manager Dr Kinda Ibrahim Academic Career Development Associate Lead Jamie Stevenson Communications and Partnership Manager Annemarie Hankinson Lead for Patient and Public Involvement Our partnership board members Professor Alison Richardson ARC Director Dr Karen Underwood Operational and Finance Lead University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust Professor Anne-Sophie Darlington School of Health Sciences University of Southampton TBC Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICS TBC Bournemouth University Nicky Judd Action Hampshire - Voluntary Sector Representative Richard Trowbridge ARC Operations Director Christine McGrath Managing Director Wessex Health Partners Dr Sarah Williams Chief Medical Officer - Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust TBC Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Elizabeth Davies-Ward University of Winchester Dr Chris Stock ARC Wessex PPI Strategic Lead Clare Rook NIHR Regional Research Delivery Network South Central Nicola Bent Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Innovation Adoption - Health Innovation Wessex TBC Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Dr Peter Wilson Chief Medical Officer, University Hospital Dorset NHS Foundation Trust TBC Hampshire County Council Richard Mandunya PPI Representative Professor Kyla Thomas South West Central Regional Research Delivery Network Philippa Darnton Implementation Lead Dr Paul Johnson Dorset ICS Professor Richard Thelwell University of Portsmouth Amy Hurst Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council Sally Dace PPI representative

Events Coming up Mon, Nov 03 ARC Wessex Webinar: Young People in Research / Microsoft Teams Webinar Learn more Nov 03, 2025, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Microsoft Teams Webinar Wed, Nov 05 CRED Talk: The Characteristics of the Social Care Workforce in England and Australia / Microsoft Teams Webinar Learn more Nov 05, 2025, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Microsoft Teams Webinar Wed, Feb 11 ARC Wessex Healthy Communities Theme Meeting / Microsoft TEAMS Learn more Feb 11, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Microsoft TEAMS Join us to learn more about the Healthy Communities Theme projects and activities Date and time is TBD Social Care Lunchtime Seminar | Event postponed until a later date / Via Zoom Learn more Date and time is TBD Via Zoom Health inequalities of ethnic minorities groups in the UK Wed, Oct 22 ARC Wessex Healthy Communities Theme Meeting / Microsoft TEAMS Learn more Oct 22, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Microsoft TEAMS Join us to learn more about the Projects and work of the Healthy Communities Theme Thu, Oct 16 Understanding why, who and when people decline an offer of accommodation in Portsmouth and continue to rough sleep / Online Seminar Learn more Oct 16, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Online Seminar Understanding why, who and when people decline an offer of accommodation in Portsmouth and continue to rough sleep - A realist informed evaluation' Mon, Oct 13 ARC Wessex Webinar: Supporting the Workforce / Microsoft Teams Learn more Oct 13, 2025, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Microsoft Teams Tue, Oct 07 ARC Event 2025 / Southampton Learn more Oct 07, 2025, 9:15 AM – 2:30 PM Southampton Applied Research, Real Lives, Change that matters Mon, Oct 06 ARC Qualitative Network Meeting | “Autoethnography” presented by Dr Becki Nash / Online seminar MSTeams Learn more Oct 06, 2025, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Online seminar MSTeams Cycles of Consideration, Judgement, and Slippage: Autoethnographic Accounts of Researching Medical Cosmetic Procedures Wed, Sep 17 ARC Wessex Ageing & Dementia Theme Meeting / Microsoft TEAMS Learn more Sep 17, 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Microsoft TEAMS Join us to learn more about the Projects and work of the Ageing & Dementia Theme Mon, Sep 15 ARC Wessex Webinar: Empowering People to use Digital Solutions / Microsoft Teams Learn more Sep 15, 2025, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Microsoft Teams Find out how our researchers are improving digital healthcare Thu, Sep 04 Supporting Health Professionals Research Development / The ARK Conference Centre Learn more Sep 04, 2025, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM The ARK Conference Centre, Dinwoodie Dr, Basingstoke RG24 9NN, UK Wed, Jul 09 NIHR ARCs national webinar (#ARCseminar): Creative arts for dementia / Recording available below Details Jul 09, 2025, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Recording available below In this year's national #ARCseminar series, we explore the healing power of creative arts. Here, in the third webinar of the series, we will be hearing from researchers on: Creative arts for dementia care. Thu, Jul 03 Research Readiness in Homecare / Bournemouth Details Jul 03, 2025, 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM Bournemouth, 89 Holdenhurst Rd, Bournemouth BH8 8EB, UK This event will focus on identifying opportunities to enhance research engagement and strengthen collaborations to drive better outcomes for people living with dementia at home. Wed, Jun 25 Empowering Ageing through Digital Health Coaching / Bournemouth University Lansdown Campus Learn more Jun 25, 2025, 12:30 PM – 4:00 PM Bournemouth University Lansdown Campus, Gateway Building, BG302, 12 St Paul's Ln, Bournemouth BH8 8GP, UK Celebrating the success of the DIALOR (DIgitAL cOaching for fRailty) project (funded by NIHR ARC Wessex) Thu, Jun 19 Social Care Lunchtime Seminar: / Via Zoom Learn more Jun 19, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Via Zoom Person centred approaches, advocacy and community engagement in research and social care. Tue, Jun 17 Healthy Communities Theme Meeting / Microsoft TEAMS Learn more Jun 17, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Microsoft TEAMS Join us to learn more about the Healthy Communities Theme projects and activities Thu, Jun 12 CRED Talk: Empowering better end of life dementia care in care homes / Microsoft Teams Webinar Learn more Jun 12, 2025, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Microsoft Teams Webinar Developing and implementing the EMBED-Care Framework Tue, Jun 03 Qualitative Research Network - 'I am' Digital Stories / Online webinar on MS teams - link below Details Jun 03, 2025, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Online webinar on MS teams - link below Digital Stories for enabling the voices of autistic children and young people to contribute to transitions in education, health and social care settings Tue, Jun 03 ARC Wessex Ageing & Dementia Theme Meeting / Microsoft TEAMS Learn more Jun 03, 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Microsoft TEAMS Join us to learn more about the Projects and work of the Ageing & Dementia Theme Thu, May 15 Social Care Lunchtime Seminar: Empowering Voices / on MSTeams Learn more May 15, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM on MSTeams How Research Can Enhance Lives for People with Learning Disabilities Tue, May 06 CRED Talk: Eating and drinking well in care homes - the missing pieces of the puzzle / Microsoft Teams Webinar Learn more May 06, 2025, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Microsoft Teams Webinar Load More Previous events

ARC Wessex is part of the National Institute for Health and Care Research. We conduct research together with universities, health and care services, the NHS, charities, people and patients to improve the lives of people in our community. Read about Vikki's work with dementia patients Latest news Black History Month: How can we represent your community in research? £16.3 million for health and care research in Wessex ARC Event 2025 - Six years of outstanding research Launchpad! Get involved in Research Domestic violence and abuse Conference looks to break the cycle Alcohol Research? No thanks! Read more NIHR ARC Wessex in numbers 200+ Members 100+ Academy members £18M Invested in research 155 Research projects How can we help? For professionals & researchers Read more For public & patients Read more For training & development Read more

Ageing & Dementia Theme leads Stephen Lim Theme lead Dr Kinda Ibrahim Deputy theme lead Ageing and Dementia theme webinar Next theme meeting: see events page Learn more about the Healthy Ageing, Dementia and Frailty National Priority Programme Research projects ARC Wessex programme of research on Medicines Optimisation (MODIFY SPiDeR STOP-DEM) Read more Refinement of an eFalls tool - a multivariable prediction model for the risk of ED attendance or in-hospital fall or fracture in individuals accessing mental health or learning disability services - eFalls Read more ADOPTED: Understanding how and why live-in care packages are arranged and sustained, when dementia is the primary support need: A mixed methods study. Read more Developing Pathways for older adults who are also drinking at increased-risk levels Older adults Alcohol Pathway (OAP) Read more COMPLETED ADOPTED PROJECT: Neuro LTC: Assessing Baseline Factors, Critical Events and Fatigue in Long Term Neurological Conditions Read more EnTech (Enabling Technology): Investigating the enabling and inhibiting factors to the use of internet-based support tools for caregivers of people with dementia, and how to promote engagement. Read more The feasibility and acceptability of a collaborative deprescribing intervention to reduce anticholinergic burden among hospitalised older patients. Digital Anticholinergic Reduction Tool (DART) Read more Understanding the Networks, Effects and Teams involved in Community Alternatives to ACute Hospitalisation for Older People in Hampshire and Isle of Wight Region – CAtCH-NET Read more ADOPTED: Mobility assessments in hospitalised older adults: study protocol for an e-survey of UK healthcare professionals Read more ADOPTED: An observational longitudinal cohort study to investigate Cortical Disarray Measurement in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s disease (CONGA) Read more ADOPTED: (SIFT) Sensors in Fatigue Tracking in Parkinson’s. Exploring the relationship between perception of Fatigue and the performance of physical activities in people with Parkinson's with fatigue using wearable sensors Read more COMPLETED: Development, evaluation and provision of an intervention for primary and community NHS staff to help carers and homecare workers supporting people living at home with dementia with their continence. Read more ADOPTED: FLOWS Planning for Frailty: Optimal Health and Social Care Workforce Organisation Using Demand-led Simulation Modelling Read more PIVOT: Promoting Increased physical actiVity in hospitalised Older adults with Trained volunteers Read more ADOPTED: SPLENDID Social Prescribing for people to Live ENjoyably with Dementia/memory problems In Daily life Read more ADOPTED: Community Alternatives to aCute Hospitalisation for Older People who have Fallen (CAtCH-Falls) Read more COMPLETED: Wessex Frail2Fit – A feasibility and acceptability study of a virtual multi-modal intervention delivered by volunteers to improve functional outcomes of older adults with COVID-19 discharged from hospital Read more COMPLETED: Developing training for person-centred care: adapting the Chat & Plan for use in domiciliary care Read more COMPLETED ADOPTED PROJECT: Geospatial mapping of emergency calls from older adults to ambulance services in the South Central region, with a focus on people living with dementia: a feasibility study. Read more COMPLETED: Understanding psychosocial determinants of alcohol use disorder (AUD) in older adults: exploring the role of social networks and loneliness in living with AUD (OLA study 2). Read more COMPLETED ADOPTED PROJECT: Optimising Outpatients: Effective service transformation through face-to-face, remote and digital care delivery. Read more COMPLETED: Development of a structured deprescribing intervention for people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment in primary care (STOP-DEM) Read more COMPLETED: Development, evaluation and provision of an intervention for primary and community NHS staff to help carers and homecare workers supporting people living at home with dementia with their continence. Read more ADOPTED: Incidental Interaction: Novel Technology to Support Elders-as-Athletes through Augmenting Everyday Interactions Read more Wessex NHS Insights Prioritisation Programme Project (NIPP) Read more COMPLETED ADOPTED: Investigating Quality of Care for People with Dementia Undergoing Cancer Treatment in Ambulatory Care (ImPaCT) Read more COMPLETED: Creating Learning Environments for Compassionate Care (CLECC) in mental health settings: an implementation study Read more COMPLETED: Promoting person-centred care using the CHAT&PLAN conversation guide Read more COMPLETED: INVOLVing pEople with cognitive impaiRment in decisions about their hospital nursing care (INVOLVER): a pilot study Read more COMPLETED: Neuro Digital: From Attitudes to Strategies Read more COMPLETED: Neuro Online (Formerly From Clinic to E-Clinic): Evaluating the Implementation of the My Medical Record Platform in Young-Onset Dementia and Huntington’s Disease. Read more COMPLETED: IDA: Implementing a Digital physical Activity intervention for older adults Read more COMPLETED: The ImPACt study - Improving physical activity of older people in the community Read more COMPLETED: CLECC Toolkit and background: Creating Learning Environments for Compassionate Care (CLECC) Read more COMPLETED: StOP UTI project: Strategies in older people's care settings to prevent infection Read more COMPLETED: Understanding the psychosocial needs and trajectories of older adults (>64 years) with alcohol use disorder (AUD) from hospital back into community Read more The PD Life Study: Exploring the treatment burden and capacity of people with Parkinson’s and their caregivers Read more DIALOR: DIgitAL cOaching for fRailty (DIALOR) Read more COMPLETED: Material Citizenship Framework Project Read more Mental health hub projects Understanding the psychosocial needs and trajectories of older adults (>64 years) with alcohol use disorder (AUD) from hospital back into community Read more Publications Read our publications here. 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Long Term Conditions Theme leads Professor Mari-Carmen Portillo Theme lead Long Term Conditions Theme To promote better living with and management of long-term conditions we need care plans that make sense to people and respond to individual needs. We aim to listen to and learn from people's experiences, explore resources in the community and work in teams that represent different lay people, sectors and professionals. Research projects ARC Wessex programme of research on Medicines Optimisation (MODIFY SPiDeR STOP-DEM) Read more ADOPTED: Personalised social and self-management support for better living with multiple long-term conditions in the community (CO-ACTION) Read more Social Prescribing Link Workers framework: supporting complex needs of adults living with physical and mental health long term conditions Read more Evaluating impact of personalised care at service at service and system levels: Learning from the Wessex Academy for Skills in Personalised Care (WASP) programme. Read more Understanding barriers and enablers of using the Living with Long Term Conditions scale as part of routine care for people from under-served groups living with type 2 diabetes Read more PARTNERS II: Testing implementation and evaluation of a digital tool for multisectoral support and management of people living with Parkinson’s disease and/or arthritis. Read more Avoiding care escalations through targeted care coordination for people with multiple long-term conditions – a knowledge mobilisation project Read more Deprescribing and Optimisation of Medicines IN Older people with Heart Failure and Frailty (DOMINO-HFF) Read more COMPLETED: Change in treatment burden among people with multimorbidity: Protocol of a follow up survey and development of efficient measurement tools for primary care Read more ADOPTED: Treatment burden in people below the age of 65 with multimorbidity in primary care: A mixed methods (SPELL) Read more ADOPTED: (SIFT) Sensors in Fatigue Tracking in Parkinson’s. Exploring the relationship between perception of Fatigue and the performance of physical activities in people with Parkinson's with fatigue using wearable sensors Read more Reframing responsibility through public empowerment: proposing the ‘FoodEnviroScan’ app to unmask unfair environmental cues influencing poor diets Read more COMPLETED: Non-digital support for maintaining physical activity in people with long-term conditions – within Maintenance Of physical acTivity beHaviour (MOTH) programme Read more COMPLETED: Digital support for maintaining physical activity in people with long-term conditions Read more COMPLETED: Development of policy recommendations to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on physical activity and mental health in individuals with multimorbidity: a mixed method study. Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: Understanding risk stratification of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in primary care Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: Development of a decision aid for offloading device selection for people with diabetic foot ulceration Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: Breast Cancer Choices: Evaluation and implementation of a digital patient-centred decision aid to support genetic testing in mainstream care. Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: Multidisciplinary Ecosystem to study Lifecourse Determinants and Prevention of Early-onset Burdensome Multimorbidity (MELD-B) Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: MELD Read more POST DOCTORAL PROJECT: Understanding, addressing, and meeting the complex needs of people living with long term physical and mental health conditions: a qualitative study Read more COMPLETED: Testing the living with chronic illness scale Read more COMPLETED: Medicines optimisation Read more Interventions to support physical activity for adults (MOTH) Read more MODIFY: The development and iMplementation Of a multidisciplinary medication review and Deprescribing Intervention among Frail older people in primarY care Read more COMPLETED: PARTNERS Project: Development and implementation of a digital tool for multisectoral support and management of long-term condition Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: EnablExercise in Crohns: A qualitativE study to uNderstAnd the Barriers and faciLitators to physical activity and Exercise IN children and adolescents with CROHN’S disease Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: ExACT-CF: Exercise as an Airway Clearance Technique in people with Cystic Fibrosis – A randomised pilot trial Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: Happier Feet Read more COMPLETED: OPTIM Park - Optimization of community resources and systems of support to enhance the process of living with Parkinson’s Disease: a multisectoral intervention Read more Improving support for self-management (WASP) Read more Mental health hub projects Understanding, addressing, and meeting the complex needs of people living with long term physical and mental health conditions: a qualitative study Read more Role of patient-assessed functioning as a predictor of health service use in patients with long term mental health conditions Read more Read our publications here Read more Publications Collaborative project: Improving review appointments for people with long-term conditions

dcda912e-45e2-47ca-a777-aad1c26161d1 ADOPTED PROJECT: Supported remote rehabilitation post Covid-19 COMPLETED: Development, deployment, and evaluation of a digitally enabled rehabilitation programme Chief Investigator: Professor Elizabeth Murray – University College London, Dr Henry Goodfellow – University College London Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care Project Team Members: Dr Katherine Bradbury – University Of Southampton, Dr Stuart Linke – Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust, Mr Chris Robson – University College London, Professor Fiona Stevenson – University College London Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, Dr Manuel Gomes – University College London Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, Dr Fiona Hamilton – University College London Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, Professor Ann Blandford – University College London, Professor John Hurst – University College London, Professor Delmiro Fernandez- Reyes – University College London, Professor William Henley – University of Exeter Medical School, Dr Melissa Heightman – University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Paul Pfeffer – Barts Health NHS Trust, Dr William Ricketts – Barts Health NHS Trust, Ms Hannah Hylton – Barts Health NHS, Trust Dr Richa Singh – Barts Health NHS Trust, Ms Julia Bindman – Patient and Public Involvement contributor based in England. Publication: October 2025 - D esign and deployment of digital health interventions to reduce the risk of the digital divide and to inform development of the living with COVID recovery: a systematic scoping review Organisations Involved: Living With, NHS England, various NHS trusts, AHSN Wessex, UCL Partners. Start Date: 1st October 2020 End Date: 30th September 2023 Background: Covid-19 had affected nearly 300,000 patients in the UK by 6/7/20. Many remain symptomatic with breathlessness, fatigue, and anxiety for weeks or months. These symptoms can be improved with rehabilitation, but traditional, face-to-face models of service delivery will struggle to cope with these large numbersof patients. A digital approach is likely to be needed, but there are numerous challenges with this approach, including failures of implementation; anxieties around the digital divide/health inequalities; and concerns around low engagement with such programmes. Aim: To refine, deploy and evaluate a digitally- mediated, remote, supported rehabilitation programme for patients affected by Covid-19.Methods: We will combine research methods common to engineering and computer science (focused on developing a product that is safe, stable and meets user requirements) with those familiar to biomedical and health service researchers (focused on effectiveness and population impact). Thus, we will apply the Medical Research Council (MRC) Framework for development and evaluation of complex interventions (Phases 1, 2 and 4) Publications Experiences of user-centred design with agile development for clinically supported self-management of Long Covid Trajectories of functional limitations, health-related quality of life and societal costs in individuals with Long COVID: a population based longitudinal cohort study Additional funding The work from this project led to an additional Grant from NIHR SPCR Do community-based digital health inclusion programmes contribute to tackling health inequalities in disadvantaged population groups?

COVID-19 projects We have been responding to the call from the National Institute for Health Research and the Department of Health and Social Care to rapidly respond to the demand for evidence and support for the NHS and care settings during the Covid-19 pandemic. The ARC Wessex Central team has been called in to support the NHS Nightingale Hospital and we are working with other ARCs and specialists. Professor Peter Griffiths is leading a team on Workforce and Staffing. This page lists the ARC Wessex Covid-19 research projects underway, and is updated when new projects come online. #staysafe Our research projects COMPLETED: Symptoms, Trajectory, Inequalities and Management: Understanding Long-COVID to Address and Transform Existing Integrated Care Pathways (STIMULATE) Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: Supported remote rehabilitation post Covid-19 Read more COMPLETED: Development of policy recommendations to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on physical activity and mental health in individuals with multimorbidity: a mixed method study. Read more COMPLETED: Predicting Patient Deterioration Risks in COMMunities Read more COMPLETED: How to Support children with cancer, or another serious condition, and their parents during the COVID-19 outbreak Read more COMPLETED: Developing a web resource to support families bereaved during COVID-19 Read more COMPLETED: GOODNIGHT Covid-19 to care-home-based vulnerable individuals Read more COMPLETED: COVID-19 Emergency Department Project Read more

Healthy Communities Theme leads Professor Nisreen Alwan Theme lead Professor Dianna Smith Deputy theme lead Healthy Communities Theme The health of people across our communities faces a number of challenges from the start of someone’s life until the end – our research teams are addressing inequalities, diet, domestic violence and a wide range of issues that touch on everyone’s lives in particular those in more vulnerable and underserved populations. Next theme meeting: see events page or or contact: H.Down@soton.ac.uk for details Research projects ARC Wessex programme of research on Medicines Optimisation (MODIFY SPiDeR STOP-DEM) Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: Exploratory research to examine the health impact of scams and fraud and the current knowledge and systems in the police and partner agencies for targeting and delivering victim support services Read more ADOPTED: DASA - Domestic abuse and housing: local authorities' provision of safe accommodation for adults living with disabilities and/or long-term/life-limiting illness: a mixed-methods study Read more ADOPTED: CEDA ‘Making the invisible visible’: identifying and responding to unpaid carers who experience domestic abuse from end-of-life care recipients Read more COMPLETED ADOPTED PROJECT: Evaluating the Operation Encompass Scheme: A Qualitative Scoping Study Read more ADOPTED: IneQUIty in end of life care for children: Investigating experiences and families’ Needs after sudden and unexpecTEd deaTh in children and young people – the QUINTET study Read more Determining the effectiveness and outcomes of innovative interventions for people who have used stalking behaviours: An extension of the exploration of the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Multi-Agency Stalking Partnership (MASP) Read more A qualitative case study to understand Young people’s food purchasing patterns in CONvenience stores in the school neighbourhood environment (Y-CON) Read more ENRICHER-C: Involvement in the criminal justice system & the impact on women's health in Dorset & Hampshire – Community comparison Read more Developing a core cohort of community researchers in Wessex: towards a sustainable Wessex Community of Practice for public health research co-production Read more COMPLETED: WADE. Women and Desistence Engagement : An evaluation of a community-based, conditional caution pilot programme for women in the criminal justice system Read more COMPLETED: Motivating and sustaining engagement of young people in improving their health and that of their communities Read more COMPLETED SOCIAL CARE: Building Bridges: Elevating Research Culture in Social Care through Collaboration, Qualitative Insight and Relationship-Driven Impact Read more ADOPTED: Investigating the impact of food vouchers on diet composition and the prevention of childhood obesity Read more ADOPTED: Community pharmacy alcohol-related liver disease risk identification and linkage to care through development of a complex intervention (CIP-LINC) Read more ADOPTED: Evaluation & Exploration of Multi-Agency Stalking Partnership Interventions Read more Qualitative Data Preservation and Sharing (Q-DaPS) Read more SOCIAL CARE: Evaluation of Southampton City Council’s Male Engagement Worker (MEW) Project Read more ADOPTED: Exploratory research to examine the health impact of scams and fraud and the current knowledge and systems in the police and partner agencies for targeting and delivering victim support services Read more COMPLETED: Co-POWeR - Consortium on Practices of Wellbeing and Resilience in BAME Families and Communities Read more COMPLETED: Testing the effects of food product placement on customers’ visual attention and intended product purchases: a randomised trial in a virtual supermarket setting (Phase II) Read more COMPLETED: Symptoms, Trajectory, Inequalities and Management: Understanding Long-COVID to Address and Transform Existing Integrated Care Pathways (STIMULATE) Read more ADOPTED: Mapping pathways of response for adult and child victim-survivors of domestic abuse in Southampton City Read more ENRICHER – involvEment iN the cRiminal justice system & the ImpaCt on women’s Health dorsEt & hampshiRe Read more CHAMPION: Children whose mothers are involved in the criminal justice system in Dorset & Hampshire: developing health and social care outcome indicators Read more COMPLETED: How to Support children with cancer, or another serious condition, and their parents during the COVID-19 outbreak Read more COMPLETED: Developing a web resource to support families bereaved during COVID-19 Read more COMPLETED SOCIAL CARE: Local Authority Adult Social Care Recruitment and Retention research project (BCP/Dorset) Read more COMPLETED: Mental health Burden of Increased Living costs: Local Support (My BILLS) Read more COMPLETED ADOPTED PROJECT: Young people’s barriers to mental health services Read more POST DOCTORAL PROJECT: Early detection of chronic liver disease in community settings Read more COMPLETED ADOPTED PROJECT: Comparing pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): systematic review and network meta-analysis Read more COMPLETED ADOPTED PROJECT: ADAPT: The cross-sector implementation of NICE-recommended CBT-based interventions for young people in care: Framework Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: DIGNIFIE Gender-seNsitive evaluatIon oF a prIson alternativE Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: High Harm Domestic Violence Perpetrator Pilot Evaluation Read more COMPLETED ADOPTED PROJECT: The Gateway Study a randomised controlled trial, economic and qualitative evaluation to examine the effectiveness of an out-of-court community-based Gateway intervention programme aimed at improving health and well-being for young adult offenders; victim satisfaction and reducing recidivism Read more COMPLETED: Social network facilitated engagement in people who are Homeless to address InEqualities in alcohol related Liver Disease - The SHIELD feasibility study Read more A national evaluation of Project Cautioning And Relationship Abuse (‘CARA’) awareness raising workshops for first time offenders of domestic violence and abuse Read more COMPLETED: Wessex DIET: Determining the Impact of covid-19 on food sEcurity in young families and Testing interventions Read more COMPLETED: Domestic Abuse and Life-Limiting Illness: identifying and supporting adults at risk (DALLI Study) Read more Prevention schemes for female vicitms and offenders in Hampshire and Dorset Read more COMPLETED: GOODNIGHT Covid-19 to care-home-based vulnerable individuals Read more The feasibility of community pharmacies testing for Hepatitis C in people who inject image and performance enhancing drugs Read more COMPLETED: Testing the effects of food product placement on customers’ visual attention and intended product purchases: a randomised trial in a virtual supermarket setting (Phase I) Read more COMPLETED: The Wessex FRIEND Toolbox (Family Risk IdEntificatioN and Decision) Read more Mental health hub projects Adolescent Resilience to OVercome Adversity: EmpoweRment and intervention development – the ROVER study Read more Pharmacological And Non-Pharmacological treatment of ADHD in Pre-schoolers: a systematic review and network meta-analysis: the PANPAP study Read more Read our publications here Read more Publications

Social care An effective health service is reliant on an effective social care system, and it is therefore vital that we develop a robust research base for social care, to ensure that local authorities (LAs) and third sector organisations provide the most effective services within a wider integrated system of health and social care. Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole | Dorset Location Location Location Professor Lee-Ann Fenge Social Care lead Growing social care research capacity Our aim at ARC Wessex is to further develop research capacity in social care in Wessex. Three researchers have been funded to build on insights gained from our recently launched pilot programme and look at how unpaid carers could be better supported to engage in research development activities. The research team is led by Prof Lee-Ann Fenge and includes Post-Doctoral Researcher Dr Andy Pulman who focuses on social care research, developing opportunities for building research engagement and capacity across HEIs and the social care sector in Wessex and Researcher in Residence Dr Natalie Djohari from the voluntary sector to facilitate models for evidence informed practice. Research projects are at an early stage but will include issues like unpaid carers and social care workforce capacity. Funding is also available to support development of Research Champions to work with the researchers and to support social care internship awards. Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch (BCP) & Dorset County Dr Natalie Djohari Dr Andy Pulman Winchester - Hampshire County Dr Rachel Harrison Southampton - City Dr Michelle Myall Portsmouth - City Dr Amy Drahota Anchor 1 Anchor 1 Anchor 1 Anchor 1 Anchor 2 Our Post-Doctoral Fellows Dr Andy Pulman Bournemouth University Dr Natalie Djohari Bournemouth University Dr Amy Drahota University of Portsmouth Dr Michelle Myall University of Southampton Dr Rachel Harrison University of Winchester ARC Wessex and CRN Wessex pulled together to expand research into social care. Four researchers were funded to work with local councils in Dorset, Portsmouth, Southampton and Hampshire. Senior Research Fellow Doctor Michelle Myall was named researcher-in-residence at Southampton City Council. Amy Drahota worked with Portsmouth City Council, Andy Pulman with Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch Council and Dorset Council and Rachel Harrison with Hampshire County Council. The researchers came from the Universities in Southampton, Bournemouth, Winchester and Portsmouth. Research projects included issues like domestic abuse and social care workforce capacity. Funding also supported development of Research Champions within councils to work with the four research leads. The social care research champions were existing employees from the councils concerned. The specific focus of the role differed by the individual council and its needs. There was opportunity for learning for all involved, to understand more about what support is needed to enable growth in social care research. Publications from this work: Pulman, A. and Fenge, L.A. 2024. The Evolving Workplace: The Possible Impacts of Hybrid Working and Hotdesking on Retention of Social Workers. The British Journal of Social Work. Volume 54, Issue 8. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcae120 Pulman, A., Fenge, L.A., Mazarura, P. and Sanis, N. 2024. Struggling with studying and earning – realities of the UK's cost-of-living crisis on students on social work programmes. Research in Post-Compulsory Education (co-writing with research champions Trsih and Neil) https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2024.2403825 Pulman, A., Sloan, H. and Fenge, L.A. 2024 (in press). Advocacy in Practice: Who Advocates for the Advocates? Practice - Social Work in Action. (co-writing with PPIE strategy group representative Helen) https://doi.org/10.1080/09503153.2024.2410851 Pulman, A. and Fenge, L.A., 2024. Impacts of Workplace Stress on the Retention of Social Workers: A Qualitative Study. Practice - Social Work in Action. https://doi.org/10.1080/09503153.2024.2429085 As part of the ongoing Social Care projects established throughout Wessex, a lunch-time seminar series will be taking place each month. Upcoming Events - please take a look at our events page for details: May 15, 2025, 12:00 Dr Rachel Harrison - Empowering Voices: How Research Can Enhance Lives for People with Learning Disabilities | More June 19, 2025, 12:00 Helen Sloan - Person centred approaches, advocacy and community engagement in research and social care | More July 17, 2025, 12:00 Dr Andy Pulman - Developing carer research capacity in Wessex September 18, 2025, 12:00 Dr Natalie Djohari - Capacity Building in Career Research If you missed an online seminar see below for the recordings Social Care Lunchtime Seminars Social Care Lunchtime Seminars Play Video Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Search videos Search video... Now Playing Social Care lunchtime seminar #15 Recruitment and retention on Adult Social Care 55:38 Play Video Now Playing Social Care lunchtime seminar #14 38:45 Play Video Now Playing Social Care lunchtime seminar #13_Internships 39:33 Play Video Now Playing Social Care lunchtime Seminar 19 9 25 - Rachel Harrison 53:44 Play Video Seminar presentation Presenters Seminar Zoom links Seminar 2 - Andy Pullman Download PowerPoints Set one - Practitioner data Set two - HEI data summar Set three - Methodology Speakers Professor Lee-ann Fenge - Professor of Social Care in the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University and CRN and ARC Wessex lead on Social Care Dr Andy Pullman - ARC Wessex Post Doctoral Fellow - Bournemouth University Here's how to join Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84574755038?pwd=dHZ4RHNSMmpIQlNLNW41cnptUzZ3Zz09 Meeting ID: 845 7475 5038 Passcode: 058408 Our research projects COMPLETED SOCIAL CARE: Building Bridges: Elevating Research Culture in Social Care through Collaboration, Qualitative Insight and Relationship-Driven Impact Read more ADOPTED: FLOWS Planning for Frailty: Optimal Health and Social Care Workforce Organisation Using Demand-led Simulation Modelling Read more SOCIAL CARE: Evaluation of Southampton City Council’s Male Engagement Worker (MEW) Project Read more COMPLETED SOCIAL CARE: Building capacity in social care through co-produced research and a research learning partnership between University of Portsmouth and Portsmouth City Council Read more COMPLETED SOCIAL CARE: Local Authority Adult Social Care Recruitment and Retention research project (BCP/Dorset) Read more Dorset projecr

Healthy Ageing, Dementia and Frailty National Priority Research Programme The research is focused on the health challenges facing our growing older population. The projects are as much about staying well and supporting people as finding better ways to care for and treat people with the many multi-morbidities that can develop in later life. Read about how Pat and Julia got involved in this impressive national research programme Read: Evidence and Policy recommendations - Strengthening Community Based Falls Prevention in England Falls among older adults in the UK are a major public health concern, with approximately one- third of people aged 65 and over experiencing a fall each year. Falls can result in severe injuries and contribute to increased health and social care costs, as well as disability and premature death. Despite strong evidence for falls prevention programmes, implementation across England remains inconsistent and fragmented. Linked to FLEXI project Download the report above of flick through it in the gallery to the right Strengthening Community-Based Falls Prevention in England_Page_1 Strengthening Community-Based Falls Prevention in England_Page_2 Strengthening Community-Based Falls Prevention in England_Page_8 Strengthening Community-Based Falls Prevention in England_Page_1 1/8 Our research projects WHELD: Training care home staff to improve well-being and mental health of dementia residents led by NIHR ARC Peninsula and working with NIHR ARC South London, NIHR ARC East Midlands, NIHR ARC East of England, NIHR ARC North East North Cumbria, NIHR ARC North West Coast and NIHR ARC Yorkshire and Humber Read more FinCH Implementation study: Falls prevention in care homes led by NIHR ARC East Midlands working with NIHR ARC North East North Cumbria, NIHR ARC West Midlands and NIHR ARC South London. Read more FLEXI: Falls management exercise programme led by NIHR ARC East Midlands working with NIHR ARC Greater Manchester and NIHR ARC South West Peninsula Read more Who is participating? NIHR ARC Greater Manchester NIHR ARC Yorkshire and Humber NIHR ARC South West Peninsula NIHR ARC East Midlands NIHR ARC West Midlands NIHR ARC North East and North Cumbria NIHR ARC North West Coast NIHR ARC South London NIHR ARC East of England

Workforce & Health Systems Theme lead Professor Michael Boniface Theme lead Deputy theme leads Dr Dan Burns Health Systems Dr Chiara Dall'ora Workforce Workforce & Health Systems Theme We know that the health workforce are an asset and in short supply. As part of our ARC research we are planning a series of studies. We will look at the best ways for staff to work - for example where and when. We also want to improve conditions - in part by ensuring they have time to do the jobs we are asking them to do. Cultivating a flow of pioneering ideas that offer the potential to transform people's lives and the economy using information technology is a motivating force that drives us. Our capacity to rapidly turn these ideas into benefits for partners through collaborative, applied research and innovation makes Southampton a truly exciting place to be. Research projects ADOPTED ActMed-VW - Healthcare professional's experiences of Access to Medication for people on Virtual Wards who are in their last year of life Read more ADOPTED PROJECT - PREMAC 2 STUDY Development and application of Patient Report Experience Measure for patients accessing ACute oncology services: Read more Implementation and Evaluation of the Advanced Practice Research Toolkit Read more Adopted Project: Paramedic delivery of end-of-life care: a mixed methods evaluation of service provision and professional practice (PARAID) Read more PROCED-DST: PROactive, Collaborative and Efficient complex Discharge – Decision Support Tool Read more FORTH – FORecasting Turbulence in Hospitals Read more Predicting nurse staffing requirements -validation and scoping extension study (PREDICT-NURSE validation and extension) Read more Identifying the knowledge gaps of paramedics managing patients with mental health issues Read more Wessex SNSDE Study (SETT Centre) Read more ADOPTED (PhD): PREPARE-to-ACT study: Preparing for and Responding to Emergencies – A multi-phased qualitative investigation of Patients’ And members of their RElational networks’ decisions to use urgent and emergency care during Anti-Cancer Treatment Read more PUNDIT – Predicting hospital Usage Numbers via a DIgital Twin Read more ADOPTED: A Study to Evaluate the Introduction of new Staffing Models in Intensive Care: a Realist evaluation (SEISMIC-R) Read more COMPLETED: PREDICT-NURSE – feasibility: Predicting Patient Acuity/Dependency-Based Workload from Routinely Collected Data to Assist with Nursing Staff Planning – feasibility study Read more ADOPTED: Nurture-U (Southampton): A longitudinal survey for student metal health and wellbeing Read more ADOPTED: FLOWS Planning for Frailty: Optimal Health and Social Care Workforce Organisation Using Demand-led Simulation Modelling Read more ADOPTED: SORT-IT (Salisbury Operational Research Track – Improving Together) Read more Workforce Evaluation Toolkit project (WET) Read more ADOPTED: Social Prescribers In Deprescribing Role (SPiDeR) Read more ADOPTED: Improving patient safety, workforce wellbeing and NHS efficiency through improved shift patterns for nursing staff: study protocol Read more PARIEDA - Prediction of Acute Respiratory Infection outcomes prior to Emergency Department Attendance Read more COMPLETED ADOPTED PROJECT: Geospatial mapping of emergency calls from older adults to ambulance services in the South Central region, with a focus on people living with dementia: a feasibility study. Read more COMPLETED: Predicting Patient Deterioration Risks in COMMunities Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: Developing and testing a Patient Report Experience Measure for patients accessing Acute OnCology services: The PREMAC study Read more ADOPTED: Consequences, costs and cost-effectiveness of different workforce configurations in English acute hospitals: a longitudinal retrospective study using routinely collected data Read more COMPLETED POST DOCTORAL PROJECT: The career aspirations of nurses working in the research delivery workforce: a cross-sectional survey Read more ADOPTED PROJECT: Magnet4Europe: Improving mental health and wellbeing in the health care workplace Read more PROCED: PROactive, Collaborative and Efficient complex Discharge Read more Mental Health, Workforce and Well-being Research Framework - ARC Collaboration Read more COMPLETED: Safer Nursing Care Tool and nurse staffing requirements Read more COMPLETED: Shift Pattern Feasibility Read more COMPLETED: Improving community health care planning Read more COMPLETED: CLECC Toolkit and background: Creating Learning Environments for Compassionate Care (CLECC) Read more COMPLETED: COVID-19 Emergency Department Project Read more Mental health hub projects Work lives and Wellbeing of Mental Health Nursing Workforce Read more Development of a core outcome set for mental health nurse wellbeing: a Delphi study Read more Read our publications here Read more Publications Access our evidence brief here Read more Evidence briefs Reports, toolkits and support Find the information and tools to improve your work here Read more

Mental Health Hub Aim: To build applied health research capability and capacity to enable research-led mental health services across the lifespan in pressing areas of mental health linked to substantial health inequalities in our region. Objectives: Strengthening Wessex’s capacity and capability to conduct high quality mental health research in populations with high mental health burden Working collaboratively with a range of organisations and the public to address current mismatch between mental health research need and evidence-based health, care, and public service response Enhancing capacity and capability of mental health services to incorporate findings of research into care pathways, so improving the effectiveness, efficiency, safety and quality of mental health care and commissioning of mental health services. Our research projects Developing Pathways for older adults who are also drinking at increased-risk levels Older adults Alcohol Pathway (OAP) Read more Gambling and Alcohol Use Addiction in Military Veterans Read more Comparative Effectiveness of Methylphenidate vs. Second‑ and Third‑Line Medications for Children with Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Read more Social Prescribing Link Workers framework: supporting complex needs of adults living with physical and mental health long term conditions Read more Identifying the knowledge gaps of paramedics managing patients with mental health issues Read more ADOPTED: Gambling in the UK: An analysis of data from individuals seeking treatment at the NHS Southern Gambling Service Read more COMPLETED: Understanding psychosocial determinants of alcohol use disorder (AUD) in older adults: exploring the role of social networks and loneliness in living with AUD (OLA study 2). Read more Development of a core outcome set for nurse wellbeing: a Delphi study Read more Work lives and Wellbeing of Mental Health Nursing Workforce Read more Understanding, addressing, and meeting the complex needs of people living with long term physical and mental health conditions: a qualitative study Read more Pharmacological And Non-Pharmacological treatment of ADHD in Pre-schoolers: a systematic review and network meta-analysis: the PANPAP study Read more Adolescent Resilience to OVercome Adversity: EmpoweRment and intervention development – the ROVER study Read more COMPLETED: Mental health Burden of Increased Living costs: Local Support (My BILLS) Read more COMPLETED: Understanding the psychosocial needs and trajectories of older adults (>64 years) with alcohol use disorder (AUD) from hospital back into community Read more Mental health projects Mental Health Hub lead Professor Sam Chamberlain Mental Health Hub lead Ageing and Dementia - promotion of healthy ageing by implementing and evaluating strategies to address alcohol use disorder, loneliness, and isolation. Workstream co-leads: Professor Julia Sinclair Healthy Communities - developing, implementing and evaluating strategies to identify young people at risk of mental health conditions (including addictions like alcohol & gambling), promote early intervention and successful care transitions and bolster resilience. Workstream co-leads: Professor Samuele Cortese and Professor Anne-Sophie Darlington Long-Term Conditions - enhancing evidence-based support for those with long term mental health disorders, like treatment-resistant anxiety and depression, and approaches to mobilising community systems of support and fostering resilience, including social prescribing. Workstream co-leads: Professor MC Portillo and Professor David Baldwin Workforce and Health Systems - develop and test evidence-based interventions matched to staff need and the organisational and professional context, to promote mental health, wellbeing and resilience in workforce providing care and treatment to people with mental health problems. Workstream co-leads: Dr Natasha Campling and Associate Professor Ursula Rolfe Our Post-Doctoral Fellows Laila Khawaja Research Fellow Profile Miguel Garcia-Argibay Senior Research Fellow Profile Gabrielle Palmero Senior Research Assistant Profile Stephanie Hughes Research Fellow Profile Skaiste Linceviciute Research Fellow Profile Francesca Zecchinato Research Fellow Profile Mental Health Play Video All Videos