Centre for Applied Research in Improvement and Innovation in Health and Social Care
We conduct transformational research that makes a difference to the way health and social care is delivered
The work of CApRII seeks to understand experiences of illness, health, disability and disadvantage across the life course through a user-centred, integrated programme of research, service evaluation and needs assessment and consultation.
We focus on the development and evaluation of novel approaches to service delivery, and we investigate innovation in health and social care roles and the ways we deliver education to the health and social care workforce at all levels. Research is funded by local NHS Trusts, charities and national bodies.
Investigated topics
- The identification and management of long term conditions and pain,
- The use of assistive technology in rehabilitation,
- The needs of marginalised and under-served groups in health care services and the criminal justice system,
- The decision making, judgement and assessment of risk in health and social care practice,
- Methods of patient involvement and co-production,
- The education and development of health care professionals
- Workforce modelling and staffing levels.
Current projects
- Guys and St Thomas’ Charity: identification and support individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities through the criminal justice system (£675k).
- Health Education England: Evaluating ‘making every contact count’ (£54k).
- Several studies modelling the health care workforce in cancer, the Impact of Advanced Practice into Northern Ireland for the CNO Northern Ireland (£60k), the diabetes specialist workforce in South West London (£30k), and the ophthalmic workforce Moorfields/HEE (£80k).
The Centre is led by Professor Jane Wills and Prof. Nicki Thomas. There are nine research group leads who provide hubs within the School of Health and Social Care for the development of staff in research interests and capability.
Through its close links with health and social care, the Centre attracts several visiting clinical researchers.
Dr S.H. Cedar
Dr SH Cedar is a biological scientist specialising in homeostasis and health. She has a PhD in stem cells and cancer and has recently received an MA in Theology and Religious Studies.
Dr Sarah Church
Dr Sarah Church is an experienced midwife, educator and researcher. She is in a joint appointment with LSBU and Barts Health NHS Trust.
Prof. Sally Hardy
As Head of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, and Professor of Mental Health Nursing and Practice Innovation, Sally works in close partnership with stakeholders to provide a contemporary portfolio of activity.
Dr Stephen McKeever
Dr Stephen McKeever initially trained as adult nurse then a children's nurse. His clinical and research experience has mainly focused on the care of the critically ill child.
Dr Susie Sykes
Susie is a Senior Lecturer in Primary and Social Care Research. Her professional background is in public health and health promotion, and she has particular interests in community development, health policy and health literacy.
Dr Louise Terry
Dr Louise Terry is Reader in Law and Ethics, and specialises in teaching health and social care law and ethics. She has particular interest in withholding and withdrawing medical treatment, resource allocation, nursing wisdom, public administration and professional practice.
Dr Andrew Whittaker
Andrew Whittaker is an Associate Professor in Social Work (half time) and Health and Social Care Research (half time).
Prof. Jane Wills
Jane's research interests include the impact of health promotion education on professional practice.
Prof. Eddie Chaplin
Dr Eddie Chaplin is Professor of Mental Health in Neurodevelopmental Disorders in the Department of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities.
Dr Paul Sugarhood
Dr Sugarhood is an occupational therapist and has worked as a clinician, manager and researcher in the UK and Brazil. He is Course Director for the MSc Advancing Practice in Occupational Therapy.
Prof. Becky Malby
Becky is the Professor of Health Systems Innovation. Previously she managed and lead innovation programmes and services in health and social care. Becky is an expert in clinical leadership, systems leadership and user voice.
Prof. Alison Twycross
Prof. Alison Twycross is Deputy Dean and Lead Nurse in the School of Health and Social Care. Alison is an experienced researcher who is recognised internationally in the area of acute pain in children.
Prof. Nicola Robinson
Prof. Nicola Robinson is an active researcher who has published widely and has successfully supervised PhD's on various health related topics.
Prof. Nicola Thomas
Dr Thomas is a registered general nurse with a clinical background in kidney disease and diabetes. She also has a Doctorate in Professional Practice.
Visiting researchers
- Mark Bovey, British Acupuncture Council
- Prof. Paul Fish, Royal National Orthopedic Hospital
- Prof. Faith Gibson, University of Surrey
- Prof. Rebecca Jester, University of Wolverhampton
- Dr. Jane McCarthy, University of Auckland
- Dr Roger Newham, University of Birmingham
- Prof. Myeong Soo Lee, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine
- Prof. Brian Taylor, Ulster University
- Dr. Rachel Taylor, University College London Hospitals
- Prof. David Wareing, University College London Hospitals
CApRII works with a range of national and international academic partners through multi-centre research projects e.g. the intensive care national audit and research centre (ICNARC), the ASSIST-CKD national kidney project and with organisations, a European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) project in maternity care for migrant women and professional bodies and charities.
Academic partners
Several staff have honorary posts at international universities, including:
- Prof. Jane Wills at Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
Prof. Sally Hardy, at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. - Prof. Alison Leary, University of South-Eastern Norway.
Clinical partners
- Prof. Nicki Thomas has a joint appointment with Barts Health.
- Dr. Sarah Church, Associate Professor in Midwifery has a joint appointment with Barts Health.
- Prof. Becky Malby is setting up the Next Generation Health Systems Innovation Lab, a network designed to enable spread of great innovations in health and social care, working with partners in the UK and internationally.
Our work often has an impact on policy and service delivery: e.g. Dr Andrew Whittaker’s study on gangs has prompted a local council to invest in drug prevention programmes; Professor Jane Wills work on the health of nurses prompted a review of the hydration policies in hospitals; and Dr Eddie Chaplin’s work is changing the ways in which the criminal justice system addresses the needs of people with neuro-developmental disorders.
Our staff are highly recognised in their areas of practice: Professor Alison Leary has been named one of the most influential people in Nursing today and Professor Nicola Thomas has been recognised by the British Renal Society.
Our staff are highly esteemed in their fields, editing international journals, being members of NICE clinical guideline development groups, research grant reviewers and holding joint clinical appointments.
Key publications
- Hamm J, Money A, Atwal A (2017). Fall Prevention Self-Assessments Via Mobile 3D Visualization Technologies: Community Dwelling Older Adults’ Perceptions of Opportunities and Challenges, JMIR Hum Factors 4(2):e15
- Chaplin, E and McCarthy, J and Underwood, L and Forrester, A and Hayward, H and Sabet, J and Mills, R and Young, S and Asherson, P and Murphy, D. Characteristics of prisoners with intellectual disabilities, Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 61. 1185-1195
- Mansfield M, Thacker M, Spahr N, Smith T. Factors associated with physical activity participation in adults with chronic cervical spine pain: a systematic review, Physiotherapy. 2017 Feb 13. pii: S0031-9406(17)30017-2
- Leary A, Cook R, Jones S, et al. Mining routinely collected acute data to reveal non-linear relationships between nurse staffing levels and outcomes, BMJOpen 2016;6:e011177
- Thomas, NM and Baillie, LJ (2017) How does the length of day shift affect patient care on older people's wards? A mixed method study, International Journal of Nursing Studies
- Kelly, M and Wills, JD and Jester, R and Speller, V. Should nurses be role models for healthy lifestyles? Results from a modified Delphi study, Journal of Advanced Nursing, 73. 665-678
- Zhang, X and Lee, MS and Smith, CA and Robinson, N and Zhou, Y and Wu, Y and Mao, Y-Y and Qu, F. Effects of acupuncture during in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis, European Journal of Integrative Medicine
- Terry, L (2017) A moral profession, Nursing Ethics
- Smeland, AH and Twycross, AM and Lundeberg, S and Rustøen, T. Nurses' Knowledge, Attitudes and Clinical Practice in Pediatric Postoperative Pain Management, Pain Management Nursing
- Whittaker, AJ (2018) How do child protection practitioners make decisions in real life situations? Lessons from the psychology of decision making. British Journal of Social Work