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Title of Systematic Narrative
Review
To consider the contribution of
professional regulation on the
Health and Social Care workforce
Abstract
Context
This Systematic Narrative Review was conducted to ascertain the
contribution of professional regulation on the Health and Social Care
Workforce.
Initial scoping of the existing evidence base, including Cochrane and
Campbell Systematic Reviews, indicated a paucity of empirical research
regarding professional regulation. Grey literature available emphasised the
importance of evaluating and rethinking regulation in the current changing
service and workforce landscape. Given the integrated Health and Social
Care system in Northern Ireland (NI) and potential to learn internationally
from other professional groups, the review was constructed to encompass
the Health and Social Care workforce.
This review is particularly important given the context of service reform in
NI and on a worldwide basis. The introduction of skill mix and extended
roles and responsibilities requires an associated shift in regulatory practice.
This Systematic Narrative Review is intended to inform an on-going
evaluation of the impact, value and effectiveness of professional regulation
in Social Care, being conducted by the Office of Social
Services (OSS, Northern Ireland), NISCC and Social Care Institute of
Excellence (SCIE), to support regulatory development and improvement.
Methods employed in the review
Two key concepts:
Regulation/Professional regulation AND the Health and Social Care
Workforce facilitated an advanced search on the following four
databases:
Social Care On Line
Medline
PsycInfo
Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature(CINAHL)
Additional hand, citation searching and expert contact ensured a rigorous
search strategy generating relevant, peer reviewed empirical research.
Studies were included for synthesis based on a quality threshold. Data was
extracted and quality appraised to facilitate a narrative synthesis of 26
research articles to answer the review question.