University Enterprise Award – sponsored by University of Brighton
University Enterprise AWARD is one of the Sussex Business Awards and Sussex Health Care was delighted to be chosen as the winner for 2008/09
Successful Relationships with Universities in Sussex
The service users of Sussex Health Care are a varied and very vulnerable group of people and it is essential to ensure that we are providing research based care.
In 1999 Sussex Health Care linked with the University of Surrey to devise a course of training for overseas nurses wishing to become registered by the Nursing & Midwifery Council. The University carried out educational audits to ensure that the care home workplaces were appropriate educational environments for this training to take place and we have subsequently provided placements for pre registration student nurses.
In 2005 Sussex Health Care linked with Professor Sir George Castledine of the University of Central England to undertake a research study on constipation. This mundane topic was an essential element of the quality of life for the range of service users of Sussex Health Care. This study produced an assessment tool and treatment protocol which greatly enhance the care provision in Sussex Health Care. The research study has been published in the British Journal of Nursing and a study day was held at St Catherines Hospice in Crawley for nursing and care staff to disseminate the research findings and share good practice. We were delighted to have Professor Christine Norton, a national authority on continence as key note speaker for this event and the study day was chaired by Professor Nick Bosanquet of Imperial College.
In 2006 Sussex Health Care welcomed the first two 4th year medical students from the University of Brighton to undertake research projects as part of their course. We supported their studies in two care homes on the following topics:
- Care Pathways for service users with Huntingtons Disease
- An investigation of non-pharmacological strategies for service users who suffer epileptic seizure.
In 2008 we have supported another two 4th year medical students investigating:
- Prevention and care of Osteporosis
- Exploration of care pathways for service users with Parkinsons Disease and Multiple Sclerosis.
The medical students completed their studies with great assistance from service users, relatives and staff and their research findings have enhanced the knowledge and practice of the staff teams.
In 2007 Sussex Health Care linked with Profession Karen Bryan of the University of Surrey to undertake a research study on improving staff communication with service users who suffer from dementia. The study comprised the training of care staff who are then have knowledge and skills to inform their fellow workers of strategies to improve communication and understanding of the service user with dementia.
How has the relationship changed Sussex Health Care
The continued commitment of Sussex Health Care management to the promotion of high standards of care provision is enhanced by their links with centres of education and research. The organisation is unique in this relationship with centres of higher education and the results of research have had direct effects on the care provision for the service users.
For further information please contact Corrine Wallace, Head of Specialist Care Services and Future Development on 01403 217338 or by e-mail at corrine.wallace@sussexhealthcare.org
