Health and Wellbeing (with Ageing)

Our research extends its innovative reach into the early stages of human development, emphasizing the crucial role of early intervention in shaping future wellbeing. We delve into the intricacies of neonatal adversity and socio-economic impacts on children's growth, aiming to mitigate long-term negative outcomes through strategic interventions. By understanding the multifaceted nature of early life challenges, our research endeavours to lay a strong foundation for lifelong health and wellbeing, exemplifying our holistic approach to enhancing quality of life from the very beginning.

University of Leicester school partnership

The purpose of the partnership network between schools and University of Leicester academics is to support research and knowledge-exchange activities on the areas of mental health, behaviour, cognitive and social-emotional development of children and young people.

Over thirty educational professionals from schools across Leicester and Leicestershire have signed up to the partnership mailing list.

We hold events to explain our latest research findings to education professionals as well as seek the opinions of our educational partners to understand the current school context and challenges facing the wellbeing and attainment of children and young people. We also value the opinion of our educational partners on the practicalities of conducting research in schools, potential challenges and working together on possible solutions to facilitate high quality research with children and young people.

Join the mailing list

Please enter the password to sign up the mailing list: uolpartnership.

Acknowledging the profound health disparities faced by prison populations, our research aims to transform the landscape of healthcare within secure environments. Through strategic collaborations and innovative research methodologies, we strive to improve access to healthcare services, thereby facilitating rehabilitation and reintegration. Our work reflects a commitment to reducing health inequalities and enhancing the wellbeing of some of the most marginalized individuals in society.

Evaluation of RECONNECT services for adult prison-leavers

• Dr Emma Palmer
• Dr Ruth Hatcher
• Dr Matt Tonkin
• Professor Carolyn Tarrant
• In collaboration with the Prison Reform Trust

Funding

• NIHR

Project overview

Prison populations have higher rates of health problems than non-prison populations, which are exacerbated by low rates of engagement with community-based healthcare services after release. This poses considerable health risks for prison-leavers, whilst limiting successful rehabilitation and re-entry. The RECONNECT service was developed to increase prison-leavers’ access to, and uptake of, healthcare and other relevant services in the community. Although a national initiative, RECONNECT services are run on a local basis, in prisons and the community.

The overarching aim of the research is to evaluate the RECONNECT, identifying best practice that can inform the future development and implementation of the service. More specifically, the research will identify:

• What delivery approaches are most effective across different RECONNECT services in enabling prison-leavers to engage with community-based healthcare services?
• What barriers prevent people from attending their first appointment after they are released from prison?

To address these questions, we will conduct interviews with RECONNECT staff, stakeholders, prisoners and prison-leavers and conduct surveys of RECONNECT staff and prisoners/prison-leavers, along with analysing data from the RECONNECT services.

Anticipated impact

The research will allow us to identify:

• (i) how RECONNECT services can maximise engagement for prisoners and prison-leavers;
• (ii) which delivery models (or components) have the greatest impact on engagement and outcomes;
• (iii) barriers to engagement and how these can be overcome;
• (iv) how services can ensure robust outcomes data are collected and analysed in the future.

We will produce guidelines/recommendations that will provide an evidence base to drive future development and improvement of RECONNECT. They will also benefit stakeholders beyond RECONNECT who are seeking to engage vulnerable populations in a range of support services.

In the realm of behaviour change research, our group is pioneering efforts to understand and influence health-related decision-making processes. By integrating psychological insights with healthcare practices, we aim to address pressing issues such as antimicrobial resistance and vaccine hesitancy. Our research is a critical step towards empowering individuals and communities to make informed health decisions, reflecting our holistic approach to public health and wellbeing.

Our commitment to improving wellbeing extends to individuals experiencing chronic illnesses, both in the working age population and in older adults. Through interdisciplinary research, we are developing interventions that support behaviour change and enhance quality of life for patients with conditions such as Huntington’s disease, dementia, diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. This work not only underscores our dedication to holistic patient care but also exemplifies our innovative approach to addressing the complex needs of individuals living with disease. With respect to older adults, we are developing new care planning models and using longitudinal studies with the aim to empower older adults with actionable insights into their cognitive and physical and mental health. This work not only contributes to our understanding of successful ageing but also highlights our commitment to improving quality of life for older adults.

Enhancing neurological care: A knowledge transfer partnership between PJ Care and the University of Leicester

• John Maltby
• Elizabeta Mukaetova-Ladinska

Funding

• Innovate UK
• ESRC

Project overview

PJ Care, a leading provider of specialist neurological care and neurorehabilitation, in collaboration with the University of Leicester, embarked on an innovative knowledge transfer project funded by Innovate UK and ESRC. This aimed to revolutionize personal care planning and management for individuals with progressive or acquired neurological conditions.

Innovation in care assessment

The project involved the creation and validation of a new tool for assessing eudaimonic well-being, particularly in elderly individuals with dementia and other neurological conditions. The project underscored a significant shift in assessing health and well-being for residents lacking capacity or who cannot communicate effectively; offering more accurate insights into personal well-being and enabling more tailored care strategies.

The use of new data-driven technologies and streamlined data collection was expected to enhance personalized care, offer predictive and preventive measures, and facilitate more efficient internal operations. The anticipation was that these advancements could not only transform care at PJ Care but also have broader implications for the entire care sector.