In July 2024 we submitted a bid for substantial NIHR funding to take forward the next phases of Supporting Engaging Environments: testing the validity and acceptability of the prototype tool from the perspective of a range of stakeholders; and using qualitative case study research to explore and understand the tools use in practice.

Sadly we heard in March 2025 that we were unsuccessful in obtaining this funding and the project is therefore on hold.  We do hope, however, that it will be possible to make progress with the next stages of the project (as described below) in the near future with alternative funding. Watch this space for updates.

Background to Supporting Engaging Environments and proposed next phases

People with severe and profound intellectual disabilities need high quality support to have good lives, with approximately a third of the UK social care budget spent on such support. Despite this, levels of meaningful engagement in activity are often extremely low. Occupational therapists work collaboratively with paid support networks to promote engagement, but research consistently highlights the challenges of improving support practices and achieving “implementation fidelity”, i.e. faithful adoption of recommendations.

Action research has been used to develop a prototype “Supporting Engaging Environments” reasoning tool (“the SEE”) that occupational therapists and others can use alongside direct work with a person with intellectual disabilities when collaborating with their support network. The prototype SEE seems to have potential to support gaining a good understanding of the ways the cultural, social and institutional environment of the support network may either facilitate or restrict achieving the desired change in how support is provided.

Project aim

The work proposed aims to further develop the SEE prototype into a tool that is ready to be used as a collaborative means of ensuring that recommendations of occupational therapists and other health and social care professionals regarding practice change are fully implemented by support networks of people with intellectual disabilities.

Method

1. Work package 1 establishes the face and content validity and acceptability of the prototype SEE and how it might further be developed (from the perspective of various stakeholders: experienced and novice occupational therapists, other multi-disciplinary health and social care professionals in intellectual disabilities teams, support workers, service managers and people with intellectual disabilities and their families).

2. Work package 2 uses qualitative case study methodology to explore in depth how occupational therapists and others in 4-6 community intellectual disability teams in diverse areas of England use the SEE to collaborate with support networks. The outcomes that are possible from its use will then be better understood.

3. Work package 3 uses the knowledge gained to develop the deployable version of the SEE.

Anticipated impact

Once funding has been secured, the research will further develop the SEE into a deployable version which can be used to improve the collaborations of occupational therapists (and others) with support networks of people with intellectual disabilities. This will develop knowledge, skills and attitudes and enhance support quality and levels of engagement in activity and therefore quality of life and wellbeing. It will thus also contribute to extensive social care expenditure being well spent.

A comprehensive range of dissemination activities are proposed that will ensure that the deployable version of the SEE tool is well-disseminated and freely available to be widely used by occupational therapists and other health and social care professionals in intellectual disabilities teams. The project’s Advisory Group and PPI consultees will be fully involved in ensuring that information is clear and easy to understand for different audiences.