Current Projects

STAR (Start Tackling Alcohol Responsibly) project evaluation

The Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Social Sciences, Health and Social Care are working jointly on this project to evaluate the impact of the effect of multiple interventions on alcohol attitudes and behaviour in one local area.

The evaluation involves the combined use of postal surveys to young people and parents, and focus groups with project leaders. The final report will include key learning points from the cumulative activities that will enable continued improvement in the area.

Targeting underage drinking, with promotion of 'sensible drinking message' for over 18s, is a central part of the Government's aim to change the British drinking culture. One future step charges local communities with tackling alcohol related disorder. Advance steps have been taken through Start Tackling Alcohol Responsibly (STAR), a project that aims to stop or reduce the consumption of alcohol by young people in the neighbourhood (8-14 years). A range of activities are underway with the project having run for over two years now and additional interventions are planned.

The project is coordinated by a strategic group of different organisations that have been responsible for multiple interventions on alcohol attitudes and behaviour.

Locke, R. and Jones, G. (2012) Tackling underage drinking: reflections on one local
authority's response Education and Health see http://sheu.org.uk/sites/sheu.org.uk/files/imagepicker/1/eh301rl.pdf

An enquiry in professional awareness and quality of life issues of children and young adults suffering CVS

This project explores current awareness a medically and educationally disabling disorder and the effects on quality of life of children, young adults and their families. Although CVS has been reported on since 1843 and published research suggests that the condition may affect up to 2% of children, the condition is not widely recognised and many children may go undiagnosed for years. This project explores the holistic needs of children and young adults (educational, social, physical and psychological) with the condition and provides data valuable to professionals working with children who support them in achieving the Every Child Matters Outcomes.

Impact of the Introduction of the Ward Manager Assistants

An increase in the time nurses spend on patient care is sought by government and a related call has been made for Ward Managers to be 'pivotal' in improving the quality of patient care on hospital wards. To help achieve these targets, by relieving Ward Managers of some of their administrative duties, Ward Manager Assistants were placed for one year (2009-2010) into eight hospital Trusts across NHS South Central. To determine the effects of this novel role on the workload distribution of the Ward Manager and its effects on the quality of patient care, the project was evaluated by a team from NHS Education South Central and the Faculty of Education, Health and Social Care at the University of Winchester.