Welcome
Who are we?
A warm welcome to the AWP Research and Development webpages. Thank you for taking the time to visit this site.
Our team help service users, carers and staff to take part in National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) portfolio studies being supported by AWP.
These research studies have a benefit to healthcare, social care and/or the NHS.
We only support research that has the correct regulatory approvals, including ethical approvals to be offered to service users, carers and staff within the NHS.
We support research the focuses on prevention, treatments and/or interventions for those with mental health problems, substance misuse, neurodiversity, and dementia.
Why research matters
Research provides the scientific evidence base to inform the safety and effectiveness of treatments and interventions used within the NHS.
Research helps determine the treatments and interventions that work well, as well as where improvements and new developments would be beneficial.
Healthcare commissioners and practitioners use the evidence from research to decide on the best treatments and interventions to offer within the NHS, considering both effectiveness and value for money for the taxpayer.
Supporting service users, carers and staff to take part in relevant and nationally approved research is essential to improving treatment and interventions for everyone accessing NHS mental health services, including AWP.
The potential benefits of research
Benefits to those taking part in research
- The opportunity to share lived experience
- The autonomy through choice to take part in research, where eligible to take part
- The sense of altruism from contributing towards a process that could help others
- Improved access to procedures, treatments, tests, and therapies that might not otherwise be available through the NHS for years in certain studies
- Improved access to healthcare provision in excess of treatment-as-usual options over the duration of certain studies
Benefits staff supporting research
- Helping to fulfil the NHS constitutional right of patient to hear about research opportunities
- Empowering patients to have autonomy over their care and treatment within AWP
- Enabling a culture that supports the improvements in NHS evidence-based treatments
- Having opportunities to explore continuing professional development, as well as diversification of roles within AWP
Benefits to the wider organisation
- Improvements to staff recruitment and retention
- Direct and early access to evidence-based treatments
- Reputational benefits as a research active organisation
- Collaboration and networking with other organisations and stakeholders
Our Strategy (2023-2026)
We launched our new Research and Development strategy in 2023. This strategy outlines our vision, mission and strategic ambitions for the following three years. Please click on the button below to view a copy of our strategy.
Our annual report (2023-2024)
Over the past year, we have continued to offer AWP service users, carers and staff with opportunities to take part in research opportunities. We have also made advancements towards embedding research within our organisation and making research more inclusive. Please click on the button below to view a copy of our annual report.
