Development of a technology enabled Home Care Service to support the nutritional needs of people with long-term health conditions to age in place

Nutrition has a pivotal role to play in the health outcomes of people with long-term health conditions. There is increasing evidence which demonstrates that about one in four people admitted to hospital are malnourished and a similar situation is also reflected in the care home sector. It is well documented that malnutrition is associated with outcomes such as higher mortality and nutritional status is an important independent predictor of clinical outcome. Evidence demonstrates with early interventions and the correct nutrition support, nutrition related health outcomes can be significantly improved, especially in those with LTC’s.

This PhD offers an exciting opportunity to explore the development of a home care service that prioritises nutrition on the agenda of care and will explore how nutrition can be integrated into a whole systems approach.

This outreach service aims to link a home care provider (Interserve Healthcare) with remote residents in the community in a flexible service that is based around specific needs of the person. The PhD will also explore the health care practitioner roles and technology based practice skills required to support the delivery of such a service, and look into factors relevant to endorsement of such a service.

The objectives are:

1. To carry out a systematic literature review of the use of new technologies to prevent malnutrition amongst people with LTCs
2. To explore the requirements for and co-create of a nutritional support service blue print with people with long term conditions, carers and home care staff (malnutrition prevention focus).
3. To explore the service provision requirements from a staff perspective including development of new roles, technology and training requirements.

Please contact Dr Anne Coufopoulos [Email Address Removed]
for further information and to discuss prior to making your application.

About the Host Centre:
The Centre for Technology Enabled Health Research is a major new research centre at Coventry University. This centre comprises over 40 staff from multi-disciplinary backgrounds who contribute to a research portfolio that builds on our international strengths in psychological health, behavioural interventions, children and families research, supported by technological innovation and translation, and health economics. We have over 30 PhD students currently studying with us and offer experienced inter-disciplinary, national and international supervisory teams to support students to achieve excellence in their research.

For Health Services Research we now rank joint 5th in the UK in UoA 3 (Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy) with 94% of our outputs recognised as World-leading or Internationally Excellent.

Interserve Healthcare delivers bespoke healthcare services to clients in their own homes and healthcare establishments throughout the UK. Through a network of 26 branches, working with CCGs and Social Services Interserve Healthcare provide care directly to people in their own homes as well as clients who fund their care themselves. Interserve deliver high quality care services to adults, children and young people with complex and long term conditions.

Interserve is delighted to be working with the Centre for Technology Enabled Health Research, Coventry University to look at cutting edge research across the healthcare sector.

Through supporting this PhD studentship as well as two related ones, Interserve aims to produce original and significant contributions to the knowledge base in this area.

Candidate Specification:
• Entry criteria for applicants to PHD (standard)
A minimum of a 2:1 first degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 60% mark in the Project element or equivalent with a minimum 60% overall module average.

In the event of a first degree classification of less than 2:1, a Masters Degree in a relevant subject area will be considered as an equivalent. The Masters must have been attained with overall marks at minimum merit level (60%). In addition, the dissertation or equivalent element in the Masters must also have been attained with a mark at minimum merit level (60%).
or
• a taught Masters degree in a relevant discipline, involving a dissertation of standard length written in English in the relevant subject area with a minimum of a merit profile: 60% overall module average and a minimum of a 60% dissertation mark
PLUS
• the potential to engage in innovative research and normally to complete the PhD within a three-year period of study
• a minimum of English language proficiency (IELTS overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component)
In all cases the most recent and highest qualification attained will be that utilised for assessment purposes

Additional Items for candidate specification:
• knowledge and/or experience in the subject
• a good knowledge of health care delivery
• knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methodologies
• experience of (or a willingness to quickly learn) about home health technologies such as telecare and telehealth
• Interest in collaboration with industry

Start date: September 2017

Duration of study: Full-Time –maximum term: three years 6 months

How to apply:
Application form, full supporting documentation, and covering letter, plus a 2000-word proposal addressing the research theme must be received by the application deadline