Work
What are the team currently working on?
- Dr Siobhan Kelly is working on a project in collaboration with DanceSyndrome. It explores methodological decision making with people living with learning disabilities. Find out more here.
- Dr Melanie Stephens and Dr Lorna Chesterton are undertaking a Delphi‑designed study to establish consensus statements outlining best practice for HEIs and social care providers across England and Wales. The work spans the full adult social care nursing education pathway, including pre‑entry engagement, early transition, curriculum delivery, practice learning, enrichment opportunities, and progression to graduation. Watch this space!
- The team are about to begin a review centred around social care interventions designed to reduce delayed discharge and achieve associated cost savings. Watch this space!
- Professor Claire Pryor and Dr Lorraine Henshaw are conducting a scoping review focused on the presence and impact of social care in undergraduate nurse education. Watch this space!
- The team have completed a research priority setting project for adult social care nursing. Find out more here.
- The team carried out a large scale study to understand the landscape of learning disability nursing. Find out more here.
What have the team published?
The research team has published extensively on a wide range of topics related to nursing and social care. View all our publications.
Awards and professional achievements
- Chief Nurse Adult Social Care Gold Awards presented to Dr Melanie Stephens, Professor Vanessa Heaslip and Professor Margaret Rowe.
- Professor Vanessa Heaslip from the University of Salford has been announced as one of the 2025 International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame Inductees. She is only the 10th UK nurse to have made the prestigious list in its 16-year history.
- Dr Melanie Stephens has recently started her new role as the NIHR Research Delivery Network North West Settings Lead (RSSL) for Residential Care.
- Professor Vanessa Heaslip has been elected as President Elect for Sigma Phi Mu Chapter
- A project led by Dr Melanie Stephens was shortlisted for the Nursing Times Awards 2024 and won the University of Salford’s Best Policy and Practice Collaboration at the Celebration of Innovation Awards 2024.