Kent Research Partnership has developed Kent-based Communities of Practice (CoPs) to support the delivery of high quality social care research on the topics that matter most in our region.
Development:
Our CoP were developed during 3 priority-setting events that brought together adult social care providers, experts by experience (in receipt of social care services themselves or supporting someone who is) and researchers across Kent.
Community of Practice aims:
- To bring together people with different social care experiences and expertise around a shared interest in a particular topic.
- To provide opportunities for innovation based on a diverse range of experience.
- To encourage knowledge sharing, awareness raising and network building within the wider social care community.
- To facilitate opportunities for training, development of practice tools and other resources, and promotion of and contribution to social care research.
We currently run 2 thriving Communities of Practice which bring together researchers, practitioners, social care stakeholders and people with lived experience:
CoP1: Enhancing, diversifying and sustaining the social care workforce
CoP2: Supporting people with complex needs throughout the lifespan
You are welcome to join either or both CoPs!
Format: monthly meetings, speakers on specific issues, challenges or good practice highlights, followed by wider discussions and learning from how others are addressing common challenge(s) or issue(s).
There are also opportunities to build networks and develop projects on relevant sub-topics in smaller groups.
Opportunities for CoP members:
- Connect with social care practitioners and people with lived experience of social care to plan future research, disseminate findings and talk about evidence-based practice
- Present research ideas and get pre-application feedback on your research question, methods, public involvement plans and routes to impact.
- Funded pre-application PPI support: CoP members with project ideas relevant to our members’ priorities can request pre-application support (e.g. 1-2 Working Group members could review your application or help draft your Plain English Summary).
- Co-research from the very start: talk to CoP members and see if any are interested in being involved as collaborators in your funding applications.
Read our Quick Guide to CoPs:
CoPs – quick guide for new members
Watch recordings of our Priority Setting Events:
- Thinking Together: Adult Social Care Research and Practice in Kent
- Setting Shared Priorities: Adult Social Care Research and Practice in Kent
- Launching Communities of Practice for Adult Social Care Research in Kent
To join a CoP, email: kentresearchpartnership@kent.ac.uk