Innovation, intervention and impact: how social work research can make a difference

The ‘impact agenda’ in UK higher education mirrors developments elsewhere in the world where there is increasing concern that academic research should bring benefits to society. University social work departments are... [ view full abstract ]

The ‘impact agenda’ in UK higher education mirrors developments elsewhere in the world where there is increasing concern that academic research should bring benefits to society. University social work departments are judged not only on the quality of their research but on the impact which it has on social work policy and practice. In the context of scarce resources for social work research it is prudent to ensure that it generates the greatest social benefit possible. However, there are no agreed ways to achieve this, particularly as serendipity plays a significant role in whether or not research findings are utilised.

This symposium will explore how four evaluations of innovative social interventions in health and mental health contexts in different countries were designed to maximise the impact of their findings:
1) A mental effectiveness training programme to enhance well-being and resilience in the UK (Webber)
2) A social network intervention (SoNeT) to support women with gynaecological cancer in Australia (Joubert)
3) A training programme (Sabuba) on mobilising community resources to support people experiencing mental distress in Sierra Leone (Newlin)
4) The Connecting People Intervention which aims to support people with a mental health problem to develop their social networks in the UK (Webber)

Some common themes are interwoven throughout these presentations which suggest ways in which social work research can make a real difference. Firstly, the co-production of interventions with practitioners and service users helps them to remain relevant to practice. Secondly, the innovation is designed within the context of minimal resources so implementation does not rely upon new investment. Thirdly, the research is rigorous so that it is credible and withstands the critical scrutiny of practitioners and policymakers. Finally, the implementation of the findings in routine practice is considered at the outset to maximise opportunities for social impact.