Research: Spinning Plates
Addressing the gap in knowledge about how carers of adults with learning disabilities conceptualise and experience mental health across the life course.
Project summary and research outputs
Research summary
- October 2022 — December 2024
This project aims to better understand the mental health and wellbeing of carers of adults with learning disabilities, and the support they need.
Carers talk about the satisfaction and joy they take in their caring relationships, but they also experience many practical difficulties which can affect their mental health and wellbeing. We will use the findings of the project to develop information and teaching and learning resources. This will improve understanding an support from:
- GPs
- allied health professionals
- social workers
- support providers
- voluntary organisations, including carer-led organisations and self-advocacy groups of people with learning disabilities
We will find out about:
- the mental health issues of carers of adults with learning disabilities
- their experiences of support and services, how good they believe they are and how easy they find them to access
- what carers think about how support could be improved
Research outputs
Academic papers, reports and other research outputs will be linked from here when they are published.
Team
Research team
Lead researchers
- Prof Katherine Runswick-Cole (University of Sheffield)
- Prof Sara Ryan (Manchester Metropolitan University)
- Prof Chris Hatton (Manchester Metropolitan University)
Co-researchers
- Dr Liz Croot (The University of Sheffield)
- Dr Martina Smith (The University of Sheffield)
- Dr Rosamaria Kostic Cisneros (RosaSenCis Productions)
- Clare Kassa, sibling carer and Chief Executive of Sibs
- Dr Patty Douglas (Brandon University, Canada)
Funding
With funding from
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR135080)
Contact
Contact us
For enquiries about this project, contact Prof Katherine Runswick-Cole
