Qualifications
- Professional: Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
2008–2011 - Professional: Post-Graduate Certificate of Education
London South Bank University, 2007–2008
Research Interests
I have interests in psychology, health and social care research. Previous projects have been in the fields of dementia and mental health. A key research interest is exploring the outcomes of unpaid carer short breaks and how to enhance access to this form of support.
Publications
2024
- E-pub ahead of printEmotional Labor in Dementia Research
Quinn, C., Hillman, A., Barbosa, A. & Toms, G., 17 Oct 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Qualitative Health Research.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - E-pub ahead of printGoing DEEP - an evaluation of a social pedagogy informed approach to evidence enriched practice in social care
Toms, G., Verity, F., Andrews, N. & Leonard, R., 10 Jan 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: International Journal of Social Pedagogy.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedPositive experiences in dementia care-giving: findings from the IDEAL programme
Quinn, C., Toms, G., Rippon, I., Nelis, S. M., Henderson, C., Morris, R. G., Rusted, J. M., Thom, J. M., van den Heuvel, E., Victor, C. & Clare, L., May 2024, In: Ageing and Society. 44, 5, p. 1010-1030 21 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedSupporting social connection for people living with dementia: lessons from the findings of the TRIO study
Prendergast, L., Toms, G., Seddon, D., Jones, C., Anthony, B. & Edwards, R. T., 8 Feb 2024, In: Working with Older People. 28, 1, p. 9-19 11 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2023
- PublishedA study to explore the feasibility of using a social return on investment approach to evaluate short breaks
Toms, G., Stringer, C., Prendergast, L., Seddon, D., Anthony, B. & Edwards, R. T., 24 Aug 2023, In: Health and Social Care in the Community. 2023, 11 p., 4699751.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedExploring overnight social care for older adults: a scoping review
Boyle, N., Seddon, D. & Toms, G., 1 Dec 2023, In: Quality in Ageing and Older Adults. 24, 4, p. 127-138
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedExploring the use of images to support short break conversations with unpaid carers
Toms, G., Seddon, D., Miller, E. & Andrews, N., 26 Jun 2023, In: Quality in Ageing and Older Adults.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published‘It was just – everything was normal’: outcomes for people living with dementia, their unpaid carers, and paid carers in a Shared Lives day support service
Prendergast, L., Toms, G., Seddon, D., Edwards, R. T., Anthony, B. & Jones, C., Jul 2023, In: Aging and Mental Health. 27, 7, p. 1282-1290
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedSocial care with older people: embedding and sustaining practice – the cARTrefu project.
Alexander, P., Seddon, D., Algar-Skaife, K., Toms, G., Lord, S. & Barr, K., 27 Jun 2023, Social Work in Wales. Livingston, W., Redcliffe, J. & Quinn Aziz, A. (eds.). Policy Press, p. 167-177 10 p.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review - PublishedTalking about what matters: a systematic search and review exploring barriers and facilitators for implementing outcome-focused conversations
Miller, E., Seddon, D., Toms, G. & Hanson, E., Nov 2023, In: International Journal of Care and Caring. 7, 4, p. 619-636 18 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2022
- PublishedReflections on a personalized cognitive rehabilitation intervention: Experiences of people living with dementia and their carers participating in the GREAT trial
Warmoth, K., Morgan-Trimmer, S., Kudlicka, A., Toms, G., James, I. A. & Woods, B., 7 Feb 2022, In: Neuropsychological Rehabilitation. 32, 2, p. 268-286 19 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedUnderstanding the added social value of community-based day support: a social return on investment analysis of the TRIO scheme for people living with dementia, their family/ friend carers, and staff
Prendergast, L., Toms, G., Seddon, D., Anthony, B., Jones, C. & Edwards, R. T., 7 Jul 2022.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
2021
- PublishedSocial care: research, policy and practice in Wales
Seddon, D., Toms, G. & Verity, F., 22 Mar 2021, Social Policy for Welfare Practice in Wales.. Gwilym, H. & Williams, C. (eds.). Third ed. Birmingham, UK: The British Association of Social Workers. , p. 19-34
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
2020
- PublishedBuilding relational research capacity in care homes in the covid-19 era: applying Recognition Theory to the research agenda
Toms, G., Green, S., Orrell, A. & Verity, F., 15 Dec 2020, In: Quality in Ageing and Older Adults. 21, 4, p. 229-239
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2019
- PublishedInfluence of positive aspects of dementia caregiving on caregivers’ well-being: A systematic review
Quinn, C. & Toms, G., Oct 2019, In: Gerontologist. 59, 5, p. e584-e596
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedSocial care technologies for older people: evidence for instigating a broader and more inclusive dialogue
Toms, G., Verity, F. & Orrell, A., Aug 2019, In: Technology in Society. 58, August, 101111.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedThe development and theoretical application of an implementation framework for dialectical behaviour therapy: a critical literature review
Toms, G., Williams, L., Rycroft-Malone, J., Swales, M. & Feigenbaum, J., 12 Feb 2019, In: Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation. 6, 2, 16 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2017
- PublishedGweld y Gair: Standardisation and clinical application of a Welsh language measure for estimation of premorbid intellectual functioning
Clare, L., Toms, G., Thomas, E., Hindle, J. & Woods, R., 31 Jul 2017, In: FPOP Bulletin. 139
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2016
- PublishedA pilot randomized controlled trial of a self-management group intervention for people with early-stage dementia (The SMART study)
Quinn, C., Toms, G. R., Jones, C. L., Brand, A., Edwards, R. T., Sanders, F. & Clare, L., 1 May 2016, In: International Psychogeriatrics. 28, 5, p. 787-800
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2015
- PublishedAccess to services by children with intellectual disability and mental health problems: Population-based evidence from the UK
Toms, G. R., Healey, H. M., Toms, G., Totsika, V., Hastings, R. & Healey, H., 21 May 2015, In: Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability. 40, 3, p. 239-247
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedA systematic narrative review of support groups for people with dementia
Toms, G. R., Toms, G., Clare, L., Nixon, J. & Quinn, C., 20 May 2015, In: International Psychogeriatrics. 27, 9, p. 1439-1465
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedAwareness, Self, and the Experience of Dementia: Foundations of a Psychologically Minded Approach
Toms, G., Lawrence, C. & Clare, L., 31 Aug 2015, Psychosocial Studies of the Individual's Changing Perspectives in Alzheimer's Disease . Dick-Muehlke, C. & Li, R. (eds.). First ed. Pennsylvania: IGI Global, p. 132-158 ( Advances in Psychology, Mental Health, and Behavioral Studies (Apmhba) Book).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
2014
- PublishedHelp Yourself: Perspectives on Self-Management From People With Dementia and Their Caregivers
Toms, G. R., Toms, G., Quinn, C., Anderson, D. E. & Clare, L., 5 Sept 2014, In: Qualitative Health Research. 25, 1, p. 87-98
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedSelf-management in early-stage dementia: a pilot randomised controlled trial of the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a self-management group intervention (the SMART study)
Quinn, C., Anderson, D., Toms, G. R., Whitaker, R., Edwards, R. T., Jones, C. & Clare, L., 8 Mar 2014, In: Trials. 2014, 15, p. 74
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Activities
2024
- Wales Dementia Conference 2024: A Collaborative Success for a Better Future in Dementia Care
The Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) successfully hosted the Wales Dementia Conference 2024 in Deganwy as part of the 25th anniversary of the DSDC celebrations.
Over 90 delegates from across Wales engaged in discussions about the future of dementia care and support. The conference brought together people living with dementia, carers, researchers, health and care professionals, emphasising the importance of collaboration in shaping better care.
A key highlight of the day was the launch of the Knowledge is Power for Carers booklet, a resource created by carers for carers, supported by DSDC researchers, available in both Welsh and English. This essential guide provides crucial information to those supporting individuals living with dementia and was well-received by attendees.
A diverse range of presenters delivered insightful talks, including the Welsh Ambulance Trust, NHS, Dementia Hub Swansea, with people living with dementia and their carers sharing their experiences throughout the day while attendees contributed to discussions on improving dementia services. The bilingual conference ensured accessibility, with simultaneous translation headsets provided for participants.
Gill Windle, Professor of Ageing and Dementia Research, said, “This was another excellent event designed and delivered by the DSDC team. Feedback from delegates indicates they enjoyed the wide variety of presentations where we heard about excellent service innovations such as transforming ambulances, using national museums to support wellbeing, understanding a person’s life story to enable people in care homes to eat and drink well, the importance of the Welsh language in dementia care, the benefits of arts activities and movement to music, which included all the delegates taking part in a reviving session led by Gwynedd Council’s Dementia Actif team. We heard throughout the day from people with dementia and their carers about their experiences, including Bangor’s own Caban Group, which delegates found especially important. It was also a great opportunity to share our latest research and all the different products our work has inspired.”
The Knowledge is Power booklet will soon be available on the DSDC website. For hard copies please contact Dr. Jen Roberts: j.roberts@bangor.ac.uk
18 Sep 2024
Links:
Activity: Types of Public engagement and outreach - Public lecture/debate/seminar (Contributor)
Projects
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Developing Evidence Enriched Programme (DEEP) 2023-2025
01/04/2023 – 15/04/2026 (Active)
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Developing Evidence Enriched Programme (DEEP)
01/10/2020 – 01/08/2022 (Finished)
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01/10/2020 – 01/08/2022 (Finished)
Other Grants and Projects
I have completed a Health and Care Research Wales funded project conducting a Social Return on Investment evaluation of a Shared Lives day support service. I have also assisted to supervise three KESS II projects. One project explored social care at home overnight, one project explored arts-based approaches to dementia care in care homes and the other project explored how systems theory could inform the development of integrated health and social care services.
My substantive post is now with the Developing Evidence Enriched Practice programme (funder: Social Care Wales). This programme seeks to increase the use of evidence (research, practitioner knowledge, organisational knowledge and lived experience) in social care to support learning, practice development and to improve services.
I also have a smaller role with the Canopi service, which provides free, confidential mental health support to people working in health and social care across Wales.