Staff Profile
Vanessa Baxter
Service Manager and Researcher
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I'm an experienced researcher with wide experience of health and social care research and evaluations.
I've worked in the private and public sectors, including 20 years at Essex County Council in various research and analysis roles within Adult Social Care, Children's Services and Public Health plus five years at the University of Essex where I undertook a range of research and evaluation projects within the School of Health & Social Care that were commissioned by local authorities, health organisations and charities.
I joined York St John University in October 2023 where I lead the Health and Care Research and Evaluation Service within the Institute for Health and Care Improvement. Drawing on the vast range of academic expertise within the university, the service can be commissioned to provide primary research and evaluations across the health and care sector.
- School – School of Science, Technology and Health
- Email – v.baxter1@yorksj.ac.uk
- Research - View my work in RaY
Further information
Research
My research expertise is within the health, public health and social care sectors. My previous research projects and evaluations have included:
- Evaluating multiple recurrent care and edge of care services.
- Qualitative research into the lessons learnt from integrating children’s services.
- Research into best practice for preventing admission to and long stays in hospital for patients with dementia.
- Desk and qualitative research into redesigning children’s centres.
- Evaluating a remote monitoring pilot to detect Atrial Fibrillation.
- Evaluating a parenting information app for families with children aged 0-5 created for a local authority.
Publications
Baxter V, Kennedy M, Speed E et al (2024) Meeting the needs of patients with dementia to reduce hospital stays: a qualitative exploration of patient pathways and services. Mental Health Practice. doi: 10.7748/mhp.2024.e1713 [Link to Ray -https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/9956/ ]
Baxter, V., McPherson, S., Cox, P (2024). Effective components of services for recurrent care experienced parents: A literature review of what works, Children and Youth Services Review, Volume 167, 2024, 107965, ISSN 0190-7409,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107965
Baxter, V., McPherson, S., & Cox, P. (2025). Outcomes, clinical benefits, and cost savings of recurrent care services in the UK: A literature review of the evidence. Journal of Social Work, 0(0).https://doi.org/10.1177/14680173251336999
Baxter, V., McPherson, S., & Cox, P. (2025). Evaluating a virtual community of practice for recurrent care practitioners. Journal of Social Work Practice, 1–13.https://doi.org/10.1080/02650533.2025.2541170
Baxter V, Sheard D, Jones V, Crewe J. Findings From a Photovoice Project to Identify Services and Support for People Living With Young Onset Dementia and Their Families. Dementia. 2025;0(0). [doi:10.1177/14713012251365470]https://doi:10.1177/14713012251365470
Baxter, Vanessa, Boydell, Victoria and McPherson, Susan (2023) Multi-disciplinary support for families with complex needs and children on the edge of care in the UK: a mixed methods evaluation. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law. pp. 1-19.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09649069.2023.2281840
Baxter, V., Speed, E., Ioakimidis, V. and Ross, M., (2023). Lessons learnt while integrating services for children: qualitative interviews with professional stakeholders BMC Health Services Research. 23 (1), 323-
Ioakimidis, V., O’Connell, L., Baxter, V., Chard, K., Speed, E. and White, G., (2022). Challenge and opportunity: Making sense of the ‘first lockdown’ experience of families with young children and health and social care practitioners in Southend-on-Sea (the United Kingdom). International Social Work. 65 (3), 406-420
Cox, P., McPherson, S., Mason, C., Ryan, M. and Baxter, V., (2020). Reducing Recurrent Care Proceedings: Building a Local Evidence Base in England. Societies. 10 (4), 88-88
Professional activities
I have been a certified member of the Market Research Society since 1997.
