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Introduction

My professional background as an occupational therapist in social care underpins my research with an extensive and applied knowledge of practice. As an occupational therapist I worked in a variety of roles including in community neurological services, older peoples' team, mainstream community team and rapid response. I began my career in social care as a homecare worker and I therefore have a thorough and experiential understanding of front line social care provision. 

My research expertise lies in the field of social care research, particularly applied to evaluative research methods and with older adults. As part of two NIHR fellowships, I have received methodological training in clinical trials, systematic reviewing and qualitative research. I currently use these mixed methods approaches across the research I lead and collaborate on.

I am a committee member of NIHR Research for Social Care. 

Qualifications

Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, 2019

PhD, University of Nottingham, 2016

MPhil, University of Nottingham, 2013

BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy, University of Derby, 2004

BSc (Hons) in Health and Human Sciences, University of Durham, 1999

Professional Memberships

Health and Care Professions Council

British Association of Occupational Therapists

Previous Positions

Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy, Northumbria University

Senior Research Fellow, University of Nottingham

NIHR Clinical Trials Fellow, University of Nottingham

NIHR Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Nottingham

I currently lead applied social care research which focusses on housing adaptations, the home environment and local authority reviews of double handed homecare packages.

Bathing Adaptations in the Homes of Older Adults (BATH-OUT-2)

Bathing Adaptations in the Homes of Older Adults (BATH-OUT-2) is a large multi-centre randomised controlled trial evaluating the health and social care outcomes of bathing adaptations and exploring the impact of rapid versus routine provision of bathing adaptations for older adults. The study is situated at the interface between housing and social care services, within local authority housing adaptations services. 

Bathing adaptations usually involve the removal of a bath or inaccessible shower cubicle and replacement with a level or easy access "walk-in" shower. Despite being identified as important preventative interventions for older adults there are often lengthy waiting times for provision. This project will recruit 360 older adults referred to their local authority housing adaptations service  for a bathing adaptation, and randomise them to rapid or routine provision. It will follow participants for 12 months and collect a range of outcomes including perceived health status, quality of life, falls, fear of falling and independence in daily living activities. 

This project is funded by NIHR School for Social Care Research.  

Local Authority Reviews of Double Handed Homecare Packages

This study aims to develop best practice recommendations for local authority reviews of double handed homecare packages. The study is set within social care services and involves people who are involved in reviews of double handed homecare packages including people using services, their families, homecare workers, occupational therapists and social workers. 

Double handed homecare packages involve two care workers on each care call, usually to provide assistance for the person to move safely. These care packages may be reviewed by local authorities to determine whether the care can be safely reduced to a single care worker, often with the use of advanced moving and handling equipment and techniques. As part of this project, we completed a national survey of local authorities with social care responsibilities and interviews with a range of stakeholders. We are currently working collaboratively with our working group to draft best practice recommendations which we plan to iteratively test with a small number of local authority partners.  

This project is funded by NIHR School for Social Care Research. 

• Bradley G, Rooney L, Whitehead PJ. . British Journal of Occupational Therapy 2022, 85(12), 984-992.
• Newman C, Whitehead PJ, Thomson M. . British Journal of Occupational Therapy 2022, 85(10), 779-802.
• Golding-Day MR, Walker MF, Whitehead PJ. . International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation 2022, 29(6), 1-16.
• Golding-Day MR, Whitehead PJ. . BMJ Open 2020, 10, e035701.
• Whitehead PJ, Golding-Day MR. . Health & Social Care in the Community 2019, 27(6), 1534-1543.
• Whitehead PJ, Golding-Day MR, Belshaw S, Dawson T, James M, Walker MF. . BMC Public Health 2018, 18, 1293.
• Walker MF, Birchall S, Cobley C, Condon L, Fisher R, Fletcher-Smith J, Golding-Day M, Greensmith C, Kontou E, Matias O, Sprigg N, Thomas S, Whitehead PJ. . Clinical Rehabilitation 2020, 34(10), 1268-1281.
• Worthington E, Whitehead PJ, Li Z, Golding-Day MR, Walker MF. . British Journal of Occupational Therapy 2020, 83(11), 664-673.