Implementing the Vanguard Method in an occupational therapy service
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating service level outcomes from the implementation of Seddon’s Vanguard Method for service improvement on an occupational therapy service in England: A action research case study
IRAS ID
201745
Contact name
Musharrat J. Ahmed-Landeryou
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
London South Bank University, School of Health and Social Care
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 18 days
Research summary
The aim of the proposed research is to evaluate the impact of implementing Seddon’s Vanguard Method (SVM, a service improvement (SI) framework) on service level outcomes of an occupational therapy (OT) service in England. SI is recognised as necessary for checking and maintaining that services are fit for purpose (The Health Foundation 2013). However, the outcomes do not always lead to improving the service for the service users (SUs) (Edwards 2018, Ham 2014). Government driven SI in the main continue to fail (Edwards 2018), e.g., A&E waiting times (Ham 2014)and, timely cancer diagnosis (NHS England 2016, 2017). The literature indicates that SI research is limited and mostly focused on outcomes rather than the how and why outcomes occur, in health and social care (Ashworth et al. 2010 and Downe et al. 2017). Historically, SI frameworks used in the public sector are designed for manufacturing or production line organisations (Hughes 2008). Yet health and social care services are not factories, they deliver services that the public want. There is a presumption that these frameworks are a good fit and transferable to public sector health and social care services (Reed and Card 2016). Occupational therapy is an established service in health and social care and there is very limited research literature regarding SI in relation to this service. This indicates a gap to research occupational therapy SI and, an opportunity to explore effective service design that works for the service users and staff within the current and continuing constraints of funding and resources. The research study is evaluating the service level outcomes on applying a SI framework, to redesign an occupational therapy service. The SI framework to be used is Seddon’s Vanguard Method, a framework uniquely designed specifically for the service industry, i.e. health and social care.
REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
20/IEC08/0019
Date of REC Opinion
25 Aug 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion