Research and Development Annual Report 2024/25

The research department continues to seek ways to ensure it disseminates the outputs and impacts of research.

Innovation, our twice-yearly magazine, highlights research activities within the Trust including outputs of some research that has been conducted within the Trust. We regularly collect testimonies from staff about their experiences of contributing to research. These are shared on our website.

There have been 49 research papers published from research projects supported in the Trust.
The Trust Annual Research forum took place in February 2025 with over 80 delegates attending. Positive feedback was received from delegates in particular around the theme of inclusion and diversity. A short film about the event was created:

In 24/25 Dr Susan Gutherie, Principal Speech and Language Therapists and Clinical Lead for Research completed her PhD with University of Leeds. An animation of her work can be seen below. The outputs of her research are now part of an improvement project within the Trust Me at Mealtimes study.

Dr Clare Fenton was invited to speak on BBC’s Look North to promote the DIVERT study, which looked at self-help tool kits can support children’s mental health https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3rx2l2xj3do

The Research department continue to influence national and regional agendas. The work of the research department was showcased at a range of regional, national and international events.

Jamie Telford, Research Assistant presented at NIHR Research Delivery Network Yorkshire and Humber, Research Delivery Operational Group (Rdops) around the Young Person’s Advisory Network.

Wendy Andrusjak, Research Programme Manager presented at Rdops about the MESH programme (Mental Health Nurses research programme)
The NIHR Research Delivery Network for Yorkshire and Humber also held an Impact event and a poster presented by Ellen Kingsley, Trial Coordinator on the Conifas study won highly commended (you can view the poster here).

Agnes Wood, Research Assistant presented at International Conference of Service Improvement April 24.

Sarah Cooper, Head of Research and Wendy Andrusjak, Research Programme Manager had a poster accepted for presentation at RDForum May 24 where over 600 research representatives were present.

Wendy Andrusjak also presented at Nursing conference MHRN Sep 24 and MESH at national Mental Health Nursing Symposium, March 25.

Sarah Cooper, Head of Research attended Leeds Clinical Senate focussed on Research, April 24.

Sarah Cooper, Head of Research lead the organisation of national conference for R&D leaders from across the UK on behalf of UKRD. This brought together over 100 research leaders from across the UK. A short report of the event was created UKRD Summit 2025 report.

The journal of learning and disabilities published a MESH Case Study.

We continue to host the NIHR EMRI (National Institute of Health and Care Research Ethnic Minorities Research Inclusion) West Yorkshire hub lead, Abi Wilson in 25/25. Abi is a Clinical Studies Officer within the department and act as hub lead 1 day a week. Abi was also successful in gaining a place on UKRD working group for inclusion and diversity. Abi was successful in achieving an Equity Fellowship from the ICS.

The Research Department has continued to actively engage a range of key stakeholders throughout 24/25, nationally and regionally.

The department has collaborated with Leeds Beckett University to explore the opportunity for Trust staff to access training courses, a number of staff attended a course dedicated to Grant Writing.

We continue to develop our external research profile which showcases our offer to industry and this year have worked to establish a specialist clinical research facilities at Kippax Health Centre, which will allow us to deliver exciting new studies in the organisation which was not possible before.

The HEER group have published more blogs to showcase their involvement in the research carried out in the organisation. They have also supported the development of a co-produced Research Annual Report, to make it more accessible to service users in an infographic format.

The Young Person’s Advisory Network continues to thrive, delivering the Research Ready Schools programme to a year 4 class at Boroughbridge School. This programme is aimed at introducing children to mental health research and supporting them to develop skills in research. The children produced posters which were presented at the Research Forum, where they were awarded a prize.

The continuing journey towards research being core business in the Trust has been built upon in 24/25, supporting staff to explore their own research journeys, while shining a spotlight on members of staff who are integral to the Research and Development (R&D) Department.

The Embed programme was delivered with the Gambling service, this included the service developing their own ambitions for research and an action plan to deliver those ambitions. The service now has a Research Lead and has developed new collaborative partners to further its research ambitions.

We have successfully grown the Research Champions network across the Trust with over 30 Champions now in place across a wide range of services.
Information about the research department is now included in an email sent to new starters across the organisation.

QUEST group created. This links Research, Improvement and Knowledge and will support delivery of the Quality strategy for the Trust.

Mental Health and Learning Disability Nurses Research Pathways Group used SORT tool to reflect on culture around research across the Nursing workforce. They are now developing activities to address gaps identified in the toolkit. This includes reviewing and revising the research section of job descriptions for Nurses across the organisation.

Continue to support Academic Clinical Fellows including those now completing NIHR PhD fellowships.

Provided 1:1 support for those on NIHR Pre application awards, including training on finance, mentorship, and providing opportunity for them to share their research.

Continued to deliver the MESH programme for student nurses with five participating in the programme within the year.

Established Special Interest groups for Research Social Workers and continued to develop group for Psychological Professionals. Virtual or hybrid meetings held where good practice and peer to peer learning is encouraged. The Social Workers group held a Research Day in November 2024. These groups are led by someone from the profession and support by the Research Department.

Delivered training through the 360 managers courses ‘Future of mental healthcare’ to 14 staff across the organisation.