The Council of Deans of Health is keen to explore and showcase examples of effective collaboration between universities and healthcare organisations that drive innovation and knowledge exchange across the nursing, midwifery and allied health professions.
We are looking to better understand what types of collaboration are taking place, what successful collaborations look like, and what is needed to further support collaboration. Better understanding about this work will help to demonstrate the additional value of our sector to the UK economy beyond the key roles we play in facilitating health research and in preparing the healthcare workforce.
Our second Research Month 2025 case study explores Maternity Services for Marginalised Groups.
Who is collaborating on this project?
The project is a collaboration between East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust and the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Social Care at Anglia Ruskin University. The work is overseen and led by two Associate Professors at Anglia Ruskin University, Dr Claire Hooks and Dr Susan Walker.
What is the project?
Academics are developing a range of workstreams around maternity related topics impacting their specific population, but that are essentially designed to also build research capacity and capability for midwives within the Trust.
Some examples of this are a fully funded PhD student looking at the perinatal mental health experiences of Black African women, and mini-grants offering funding and support for midwives to set up and run small practice-based projects.
What is the project?
Academics are developing a range of workstreams around maternity related topics impacting their specific population, but that are essentially designed to also build research capacity and capability for midwives within the Trust. Some examples of this are a fully funded PhD student looking at the perinatal mental health experiences of Black African women, and mini-grants offering funding and support for midwives to set up and run small practice-based projects.
What is the purpose and impact of this collaboration?
his effective collaboration is gradually developing research capacity and capability for midwives within the Trust, from undergraduate to management level. The research itself, is deepening understanding of the maternity needs of individuals and groups within their population demographic.
Additionally, the collaboration allows the team to listen to and support midwives, helping them feel more confident in undertaking research evaluation in the future.
What are the next steps?
This is an ongoing project, with just over two years left to run. During this time, the team hopes to have worked with more nurses, midwives and allied health professionals within the East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust and to see the full impact of this collaboration.
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Collaboration
The Council collaborates with education providers, charities, government organisations and arms-length bodies, healthcare providers, and professional bodies to enhance healthcare education and workforce development.
Funding projects
The Council has worked with a number of external organisations who have funded specific projects. We are open to exploring opportunities that the Council is uniquely placed to deliver and that support the work of the Council and its members.
Memorandum of understanding
The Council uses memoranda of understanding with external organisations and networks to support collaboration on areas of mutual interest.
Supporting bids
The Council is open to working with members and stakeholder organisations to support bids for externally funded projects.