CHSR has conducted research within the NHS R&D Programme, for example on decision-making in nursing and the therapy professions. Research is also funded in the European context, e.g. an ESF study of management innovation in residential and care homes.

Current Aims for the CHSR

To encourage and conduct research that

(i) develops the evidence base for interventions led by nurses, therapists and paramedical professionals,
(ii) identifies effective practice,
(iii) informs preparation for practice and competency, and
(iv) examines human resource issues around training, continuing education and workforce planning

To ensure the widest possible dissemination of such research through writing and publication in peer reviewed journals, conferences, workshops and seminars

To supervise post-graduate research and training for MPhil/PhD students, registered at the Graduate School, in the area of psychiatric care and mental health nursing

Research Activities and Academic Interests

Over the past three years, CHSR has conducted research with an emphasis on the evaluation of professional practice in the non-medical health professions, i.e. in nursing, midwifery, and professionals allied to medicine. These projects range from the evaluation of clinical supervision in intensive care units, to the appraisal of decision making in health visiting, speech and language therapy and physiotherapy, to the cross-sector analysis of training needs in elderly care homes and domiciliary services.

Topics in the CHSR's Post-Graduate Student (Mphil/PhD) Research Programme:

The implementation of clinical supervision in Intensive Care Units

A study of the practices of community mental health nurses in relation to prospective suicide

Literature and its place in the practice and development of family therapists and systemic practitioners

The social construction of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Formulating a systemic model of family processes

Developing nursing interventions in a general mental health setting for the management of clients with a dual diagnosis of mental health and substance abuse

The educational potential of parallel processes in clinical supervision

The role of groups and structured activities in working with people with long-term mental health problems

An investigation into the requirements for an effective district-based wheelchair service

The assessment of mentally disordered offenders as they move to community care

Recent CHSR Research Publications:

Lemmer, B. (1998) Successive surveys of an expert panel: research in decision-making with health visitors. Journal of Advanced Nursing: 27(3): 538-545

Lemmer B., Steven J., Grellier R. (1998) Decision making in Health Visitor practice: the study of complex influences using cognitive and qualitative measures. Community Practitioner and Health Visitor Journal. Vol 71(11): 368-370

Lemmer B., Grellier R., Steven J. (1999) Systematic review of non-random and qualitative research: Exploring and uncovering an evidence base for health visiting and decision making. International Journal of Qualitative Health Research Vol 9(3): 315-328

Lemmer B. (1999) A review of violence and personal injury legal cases in psychiatric care to identify a practical framework for risk assessment. Psychiatric Care.

Lemmer B. (1999) Competition to co-operation in National Health Services: evidence of social and cultural effects as management issues. Journal of Nursing Management. Vol 7: 141-147

Lemmer B., Bently T, Crawford H. (2000) Assessing the training needs of managers. British Journal of Health Care Management Vol 6, No. 2: 58-64

Lemmer B. (2000) A review of violence and personal injury legal cases in psychiatric and mental health nursing to identify a practical framework for risk assessment. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Vol 7, No. 1: 43-49