HDRCs bring together research skills from universities and knowledge from Local Authorities. They will support colleagues to use evidence from research to understand the impact that decisions could have on the health of local residents. If there's no evidence available, HDRCs will enable partnerships to undertake research.
Using research in our decision-making will help us to improve the health of our residents.
We want South Tees to become an international leader in research and innovation looking at the wider determinants of health and tackling health inequalities.
Wider determinants of health
‘Wider determinants of health’ are social, economic, and environmental factors which can affect our health and wellbeing. These include:
- access to green space (like parks) and blue space (like rivers, lakes, and the sea)
- air and water pollution
- climate change
- education
- food (how much there is, whether it’s good quality, and whether people have access to it)
- housing and homelessness
- income
- jobs and working conditions
- social inclusion
- transport methods
Many of these are linked with the work councils do, so it’s important to know how our decisions can affect people’s health. Research is essential to help us do this and you can find out more by watching the video below.
What we do
NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaborations enable local authorities to become more research-active, embedding a culture of evidence-based decision making.
- Community - The right tools, places, and support help people do important research quickly to benefit the local population.
- Collaboration - The council, university, and communities work closely together on research focused on health and reducing inequalities.
- Capacity - To help both South Tees Councils gain the skills and knowledge they need to take part in research, use research findings, and create new ways to improve their work.
- Culture - To create an inclusive and lasting research culture across South Tees, with strong leadership, clear strategies, and good management.
- Research - To set up best practice and enables learning that helps strengthen research skills and resources.
Our projects
We’ve already supported a number of projects. These include:
Start Well
- Absenteeism: analysing the under-investigated issue of authorised absences and the impact on absenteeism in South Tees.
- SALT: investigating the impact undiagnosed speech and language issues in secondary school children have on exclusions and expulsions.
- Adults First Approach: empowering the voice of the parent or carer in the development of educational psychology support with the improved connection of services to deliver holistic support for the family and child.
Live Well
Exploring the barriers to attendance of maternity care in minority ethnicity mothers in the South Tees area.
Behavioural Insight Study - COVID-19 and flu vaccine hesitancy in the Tees Valley.
Vertical farming as a tool to improve wellbeing by reducing environmental impact factors.
Exploring social identity and community belonging among international students and ethnic minority communities in north-east England.
Place-based evaluation on the renovation of recreational green spaces and its impact on outdoor physical activity and reduced anti-social behaviour.
Contextual safeguarding: utilising the contextual safeguarding approach to understand and respond to children’s experiences of significant harm beyond their family and home, and to aid in developing robust services in Middlesbrough.
Evaluating the use of creative arts as a wellbeing tool for neurodiverse individuals.
Bridging health divides: an exploration of NHS Health Checks in deprived communities in the Tees Valley.
Understanding the sponsorship activities associated with local government and industries regarding healthy ecosystems.
A place-based intervention to improve the lives of people whose loved ones have passed away.
Age Well
Exploring the barriers to accessing health services and diagnosis of dementia in the South Asian community in Middlesbrough.
Exploring interventions to reduce loneliness and isolation in ethnic minority groups in South Tees.
About our staff
HDRC South Tees is a partnership between Middlesbrough Council, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, Teesside University, and other stakeholders. You can meet the team on the HDRC South Tees website.
You can also watch our ‘a day in the life…’ videos to see what some of our team are working on.
Research Coordinator Abby List
Organisational Development Business Partner Hayley Cotson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WijrqaDMygA
Contact Us
Visit the HDRC South Tees website for more information and resources.
If you would like to get in touch with the team, click here or email HDRC@middlesbrough.gov.uk