How could co-production principles improve mental health chaplaincy?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How could co-production principles improve mental health spiritual and pastoral care (chaplaincy) services?
IRAS ID
157185
Contact name
Andrew Todd
Contact email
Research summary
From the days of the NHS Patients’ Charter (1991), there has been increasing recognition that those providing services need to involve service users in designing services. Co-production has far greater potential to provide a positive user experience insofar as it requires the involvement of service users in every aspect of the service delivered. Faulkner (2012) and others have similarly argued that users should be involved in all stages of research rather than merely as respondents to interviews.
Aim: To collaborate with the Centre for Chaplaincy Studies at Cardiff University to conduct research into the possibilities for co-production in the design, delivery, and evaluation of a Spiritual and Pastoral Care service.
Design: The study will use ‘constructivist grounded theory,’ an approach which involves analysing recorded interviews in order to identify patterns of opinion expressed by those who take part. The responses of participants will be used to reflect on current approaches to the delivery of pastoral and spiritual care and to explore what might characterise a more co-produced model. The research itself will be co-produced as much as we are able.
Method: The study will involve 60 days post-doctoral work over six months. It will be conducted in Mersey Care with consenting adults on acute adult mental health in-patient wards as well as with people who are receiving mental health care in the community. The participants will be as reflective of the local population as possible. The study will last up to a year and participants will be interviewed on one occasion lasting up to an hour. In these semi-structured interviews, participants will be asked their views on current and co-produced practice in chaplaincy provision. All participants will be able to give informed consent.
Expectations: This project is expected to either suggest a more in-depth study or bring about change in professional practice.
* Faulkner, A. (2012) ‘Participation and service user involvement.’ In D. Harper, and A. Thompson (eds) Qualitative Research Methods in Health and Psychotherapy. Chichester: Wiley.
REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NW/1040
Date of REC Opinion
17 Jul 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion