The Service Reform Fund (SRF) was created by the Department of Health; the Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government; the Health Service Executive Ireland (HSE); Local Authorities; and the Atlantic Philanthropies, in collaboration with Genio, to implement service reform in Ireland in mental health, disability and homelessness. The SRF represented a total combined investment of €45m by the Departments and Atlantic to re-configure existing services towards more person-centred supports, which are cost-effective and in line with government policy. 

The commissioning and undertaking of the Action Research Programme was a key element of the SRF’s work, focusing on resolving implementation challenges as they emerge and informing the choices of programme leaders. Action Research is a best practice approach to informing the rollout of complex change efforts where problems are intertwined and there are strong, differing views across stakeholders about the nature of the problem and how to address it. The ultimate goal is to gather information about ongoing activity, analyse it, and use it for further development (Hammersley, 2002). 

Ethical issues and funding

The SRF Action Research Programme received ethical approval from the Ethics Committee of the Trinity College Dublin Business School. The identity of each research participant was kept confidential and no attributable quotes or statements were used. Each member of the Action Research Team was funded through the Service Reform Fund. There are strict protocols in place ensuring no confidential information is shared between the Action Research Team and the funders. 

Who were the members of the SRF Action Research Programme team?

The Action Research Team was led by Dr. Niamh Lally, a visiting research fellow in the Trinity Centre for Social Innovation, Trinity College Dublin Business School. Dr. Danika Sharek was a post-doctoral researcher on the mental health strand of the SRF Action Research Programme. Dr. Lynne Cahill was a post-doctoral researcher on the homelessness strand. These positions were funded through the SRF. To learn more about the SRF Action Research Programme, you can contact any of the team members using the contact details below:

• Dr. Niamh Lally n[email protected]
• Dr Lynne Cahill  [email protected]

A Study of the Service Reform Fund (SRF)

In 2022, a 'Study of the Service Reform (SRF): Understanding Reform in National Systems'  was published which examined  the innovative approaches to implementing the SRF. With 300 participant interviews collected through the Action Research approach this report offered examples where transformative systemic change can occur at national, local and frontline service delivery levels. The full report can be viewed here.