Developing practice research in mental health: experiences in adult recovery and specialist child and adolescent settings

Purpose A long-standing agenda in the field of health is developing practice-based evidence, with research driven by applied research questions and led by practitioner experts. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to a growing literature addressing this type of practice research in mental health by presenting the authors’ experiences embedding practice-based evaluation and research activity in an English NHS context. Design/methodology/approach Efforts in two multidisciplinary settings in a single mental health trust are detailed: a specialist child and adolescent mental health service team and an adult rehabilitation and recovery pathway. This work, developed to inform the meaningful integration of research-based knowledge with care delivery, is described by reference to experiences over a four-year period in which research activity was particularly productive in output compared to other periods. Findings A reflective account is provided in which conditions that animate practice research activity are considered, particularly collaboration with wider professional networks, including academic colleagues, and the involvement of junior and trainee clinicians. Originality/value The reflections presented in the paper provide insights into the “doing” of practice research activity in NHS mental health service provision and virtuous cycles of activity to embed this activity in a local context. Though based on experiences from one specific trust, this paper may have the implication of illustrating a prototype for embedding practice research in other settings across similar provider trusts in the UK.