Beyond practitioner-research: integration to outcomes
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to look beyond the data and findings of a joint practitioner-research project to illustrate how joint practitioner-research can influence practice and stimulate meaningful partnership working from the bottom up within a social care setting. The impact of this integrated approach to practice and learning can enable improved outcomes for people.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors outline the research and explore the reflective process underlying the project including the subsequent phase of implementation. This examines what the authors, as practitioner-researchers, understood from the practice, heard from carers and fellow workers, and learnt from each other.
Findings
The authors consider the project in the wider context of evidence-based practice. Key enablers and challenges are identified to the production of joint practitioner-research and more broadly to outcomes for carers. The authors also examine the reflective process of joint working between individuals and the impact this can have on facilitating integrated working, at both a practice and service level.
Originality/value
The learning from this project evidences the value of meaningful joint working between practitioners and the impact this can have at different levels of integration. It also looks beyond the practitioner-research project to the stages of implementing findings and planning for ongoing joint working. It is therefore pertinent to many organisations looking to integrate and orientate towards a focus on outcomes for people.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
© Rebecca Gamiz and Abenet Tsegai. Published by Emerald Group Publishing Limited. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 3.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial & non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence may be seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/3.0/legalcode
With thanks to VOCAL Midlothian, Midlothian Council and the PROP team: Catherine-Rose Stocks-Rankin, Claire Lightowler, Heather Wilkinson and the fellow PROP practitioner-researchers.
Citation
Gamiz, R. and Tsegai, A. (2014), "Beyond practitioner-research: integration to outcomes", Journal of Integrated Care, Vol. 22 No. 3, pp. 108-116. https://doi.org/10.1108/JICA-04-2014-0014
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Authors