Co-produced Focus Groups in Inpatient Learning Disability Services
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Co-production in Inpatient Services for Adults with a Learning Disability: An Evaluation of the Impact of a Peer-led Focus Group Evaluation Process
IRAS ID
296355
Contact name
Helen Ellis-Caird
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Hertfordshire
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
n/a, n/a
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 26 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
Co-production refers to ways of working whereby service users and providers collaborate to make decisions or develop services in a way that works for them all. Values associated with co-production have been increasingly recognised in health and social care policies in the UK. Whilst there are some promising examples of co-production in services for people with a learning disability (LD), disparity between policy and practice remains. It is argued that this keeps people with a LD in dis-empowered positions in services, vulnerable to health inequalities and abusive practices.NHS England has developed a peer-led focus group evaluation process (PFGEP) for inpatient settings serving people with a LD. Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is piloting a PFGEP based on this model in LD inpatient services during 2021. The PFGEP is designed to complement existing ways of listening to patient's views about their care, and generates tangible service recommendations, which are built into the service's quality assurance process. In line with co-production values, the groups were developed by an someone with lived experience of LD inpatient services, and are co-facilitated by an individual with a LD.
The proposed study aims to evaluate the impact of the PFGEP format on the functioning of a forensic LD inpatient service in HPFT, by interviewing a wide range groups in the service (patients, staff, PFGEP facilitators). The data gathered will be analysed using a grounded theory approach, which aims to develop a theoretical model of understanding that is grounded in the participant’s data. It is hoped that this will allow for a greater understanding of the PFGEP’s values and limitations, and therefore generate recommendations for the use these processes in inpatient services. The project also aims to increase understanding of the experiences of participating in co-production, from the perspectives of participators both with and without a LD.
Summary of Results
Due to low recruitment, insufficient data collected for qualitative analysis to be undertaken. Analysis was therefore not conducted and results are therefore not available.REC name
South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SC/0304
Date of REC Opinion
2 Nov 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion