The NIHR-Supported Research Incubator in Mental Health Social Care (MHSCI) aims to support research capacity building in this field.
The development of Mental Health Social Care Incubator has been underpinned by funded support from the NIHR Supported Incubator for Social Care and the Three NIHR Research Schools’ Mental Health Programme via the Catalyst project .
We had a pre-launch meeting in December 2023 and a launch meeting in March 2024. Our Mental Health Social Care network is growing.
Between 2024 and 2027 we will undertake activities to help people with diverse research, lived and practice experience develop their engagement with mental health social care research and practice. This includes supporting people and groups, such as those from the third sector or in statutory practice, to develop their research ideas.
The Incubator is a place to share knowledge and aspirations for mental health social care, and develop this new field of research to improve people’s lives.
Find out how you can get involved.
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The development of the Mental Health Social Care Incubator has been underpinned by funded support from the former NIHR Supported Incubator for Social Care and the Three NIHR Research Schools’ Mental Health Programme via the Catalyst project (MH005).
The Mental Health Social Care Incubator is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The views expressed on this website are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
About mental health social care
Social care is intrinsic to mental health provision in the UK.
Mental health social care can help people with mental illness to live independently, and participate in or contribute to community life, as well as prevent their mental health from getting worse.
What we do
The Mental Health Social Care Incubator will enable key stakeholders to collaborate in identifying and addressing the barriers to research capacity development.
Our core aim is to build research capacity to help enhance the evidence base for and the profile of the field, to better meet its potential to support improved outcomes for people.
We will coproduce a stronger identity, aid the development of infrastructure and capacity-building activities, and create a network of organisations and individuals to develop and support research in mental health social care.
Our objectives
- Bring together key stakeholders, map the terrain and major issues, and coproduce priorities for research capacity development in mental health social care.
- Establish an Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) workstream, engaging third-sector groups working with communities experiencing inequalities in mental health care.
- Coproduce and deliver a Mental Health Social Care Incubator action plan, addressing its identity, infrastructure, EDI issues and resources to grow research capacity.
- Scope opportunities and engage key funders to develop pathways of support for colleagues and organisations in mental health social care.
Get involved
We would like to hear from you.
If you are interested in joining this evolving development of mental health social care, or if you would like to know more about the Mental Health Social Care Incubator, please contact us by emailing mhsc.incubator@manchester.ac.uk.
You can also join our mailing list and find out more about opportunities such as the Stepping into Research (STiR) scheme.
Current NIHR funding opportunities can be found on the NIHR website.
Meet the team
The Incubator is led by experts from The University of Manchester and the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Professor Catherine Robinson (co-lead)
Catherine is a Professor of Social Care Research and the Director of Social Care and Society at The University of Manchester.
She is passionate about developing strong and sustainable careers, and is supervisor and mentor to a number of emerging research leaders and early career researchers. Her research interests have centred on the interface between health care and social care, family care, mental health social care, and self-harm and suicide.
Catherine is the social care research lead for several infrastructure initiatives, including the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Greater Manchester and the NIHR Patient Safety and Research Collaborative. She is the academic lead of the newly formed NIHR Specialist Social Care Centre as part of the Lancaster University and Partners NIHR Research Support Service (RSS) Hub. Catherine is Co-Lead of the NIHR Supported Incubator on Mental Health Social Care.
Dr Michael Clark (co-lead)
Mike is an Associate Professorial Research Fellow in the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
He has worked at the interface of research-policy-practice for over 20 years at local, regional, and national levels. His research interests include mental health, dementia, homelessness and public involvement in research.
Mike has supported many researchers in social care to develop their research interests and careers. He is the managing editor of the Journal of Long-term Care and a member of the board for the ENMESH mental health research network.
Sioned Davies
Sioned is an experienced project manager who has worked for over 30 years to support and optimise research activity in universities.
She has successfully managed various research groups as well as national and international projects in mental health social care, including Social Care and Society at the University of Manchester, and the South Asia Self Harm Initiative (SASHI) project.
Sioned has also supported people transitioning into research and/or academic pursuits in various administrative roles with Bangor University. She will manage the day-to-day operations of the Incubator and associated activities, as well as leading on communications and providing financial and secretariat support.
Alongside this role, Sioned serves as Business Support Manager for the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
Steering group
See a list of members of our steering group, which helps guide the direction of the Mental Health Social Care Incubator.
Contact us
Get in touch to find out more about the Mental Health Social Care Incubator and how you can get involved.
Email: mhsc.incubator@manchester.ac.uk
Follow us on Bluesky: @mhscincubator.bsky.social
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