Background
The DEEP programme, based at Swansea University and Bangor University, was developed through a project funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Health and Care Research Wales.
We’ve been funding DEEP since 2023.
The DEEP definition of evidence
DEEP’s definition of evidence brings together:
- research evidence
- the wisdom and knowledge of practitioners
- organisational knowledge
- the wisdom and knowledge of people who access care and support.
The DEEP approach helps us find and address issues that get in the way of using evidence in practice. The aim is to nurture learning and development that’s led by the people involved, not imposed on them.
The DEEP approach
The DEEP approach brings people together to think and talk about different types of evidence.
There are five elements to the DEEP approach:
1. Create an enriched environment of care and learning
This means helping people create safe spaces, where they feel valued and able to share their thoughts and feelings in relation to learning and development.
2. Value and use a range of evidence
This means looking at different types of evidence, including lived experience, practitioner wisdom, organisational knowledge, and research.
3. Gather and present evidence in meaningful formats
This means sharing evidence in formats that engage both the heart and the head, with a focus on using stories.
4. Talk and think together effectively about diverse types of evidence
Use dialogue-learning techniques to support inclusive opportunities for people to explore different types of evidence within the context of practice.
5. Recognise and address barriers or structural obstacles
Identify and explore how to overcome systemic issues that undermine the use of evidence in practice.
A beautiful garden
The DEEP approach can be compared to creating a beautiful garden:
The DEEP handbook
You can find out more about the DEEP approach in our DEEP handbook, available in pdf format here:
Find out more
Learn more about DEEP principles and methods.
Explore learning opportunities with DEEP.
Book on DEEP events, learning sessions and courses via our events page or the DEEP eventbrite link.
The following blogs also explore different aspects of the DEEP approach: