Debra Westlake
Research groups
Debra Westlake
Researcher
Biography
I am a qualitative and mixed methods researcher with experience in applied health services research, including development of theory using Realist Evaluation. I have a specific interest in ethnography and embedded research that involves patients and practitioners in research co-design, analysis and implementation. I qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist and have practiced in education, health and social care settings as well as internationally.
I am interested in long-term conditions, complex interventions, family health care, refugee mental health and global health. My specialist areas are person-centred care and social prescribing.
I have worked on studies at the Universities of Liverpool and Plymouth as well as conducting embedded research in voluntary sector and NHS organisations. I have been joint Principle Investigator on a Global Challenges Research Fund project and am a Co-applicant on an NIHR funded study of a peer support intervention for refugee mental health.
Previous projects include:
- Researcher-in Residence evaluation of social prescribing implementation across Devon, University of Plymouth, commissioned by the Devon Integrated Care System,
- Principle Investigator: STS Study of cultural adaptations to neonatal life support in rural Cambodia, University of Plymouth, funded by Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).
- Kupumua – research to co-develop a culturally-adapted programme of pulmonary rehabilitation including music, dance and singing in Uganda, funded by GCRF
- Evaluation of Integrated Personal Commissioning (IPC) across the South West of England, funded by local health providers.
- Avoidable Acute Admissions Study of different models of emergency and urgent care for the University of Plymouth, funded by National Institute for Health Research
- Study of community child health for The Children’s Society, commissioned by local health and social care services.
- GP attitudes to completing benefit claim forms for the Health and Community Care Research Unit (HaCCRU) at the University of Liverpool, commissioned by Department of Work and Pensions
- Impact of government policy on family health management for the Health and Community Care Research Unit (HaCCRU) at the University of Liverpool, commissioned by Department of Health
I am the co-founder of a project in Peru and a UK registered charity that provides preschool education and community development for families in shanty towns of Lima, Peru.
Recent publications
-
Digging for literature on tailoring cultural offers with and for older people from ethnic minority groups: A scoping review
Journal article
TIERNEY S. et al, (2024), Lifestyle Medicine
-
Patient buy-in to social prescribing through link workers as part of person-centred care: a realist evaluation.
Journal article
Tierney S. et al, (2024), Health Soc Care Deliv Res, 1 - 17
-
"she's Been a Rock": The Function and Importance of "holding" by Social Prescribing Link Workers in Primary Care in England - Findings from a Realist Evaluation
Journal article
Westlake D. et al, (2024), Health and Social Care in the Community, 2024
-
Fitting in or belonging: emerging findings from a realist evaluation of social prescribing link workers in primary care
Journal article
Tierney S. et al, (2023), The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 73
-
Social prescribing in the NHS-is it too soon to judge its value?
Journal article
Westlake D. et al, (2023), BMJ