Professor Julienne Meyer

Overview

Professor Julienne Meyer CBE retired in September 2019 and now holds an Emerita position. She is a former registered nurse and qualified teacher, who led research in care for older people at City, University of London for 23 years. Julienne uses collaborative approaches to bring about whole systems change and reflect on the lessons learnt from attempts to improve practice. Her style of working is evidence-informed, relationship-centred, appreciative, and action oriented. During her career, she worked in a variety of different settings (health, social care, and housing; general and mental health; primary, secondary and tertiary care) and across a number of traditional boundaries (public and private; policy and practice; research and education). However, she is best known for her work in care homes, having co-founded My Home Life (MHL) an international collaborative initiative to promote quality of life for those living, dying, visiting and working in care homes for older people (www.myhomelife.org.uk). In 2015, she was awarded CBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours for services to Nursing and Care for Older People. More recently, she was celebrated by the University of London as one of their 150 leading women (1868-2018).

Since retirement (October 2019), she remains actively involved in research and set up MHL Charity (www.myhomelifecharity.org.uk) to support the on-going work of MHL Partners. She also co-chaired (2019-2021) the Commission on the Role of Housing on the Future of Care and Support at the Social Care Institute for Excellence and co-facilitated (2017-2020) the King’s Fund/My Home Life Care homes, housing, health and social care: Learning Network. She currently holds Visiting Professorships at the University of Hertfordshire and Ulster University and Non-Executive Director for Elizabeth Finn Homes Ltd. In addition, she is Strategic Advisor for Standards Wise International and Research &Development Advisor for National Care Forum and National Activity Providers Association.

Qualifications

• PhD in Nursing, King's College London, United Kingdom, Oct 1987 – Apr 1995
• MSc in Nursing (Distinction), King's College London, United Kingdom, Oct 1984 – Sep 1986
• Registered Nurse Teacher, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Oct 1984
• Cert Ed (Further Education) (Distinction), University of Greenwich, United Kingdom, Oct 1983 – Sep 1984
• Registered General Nurse, Nursing and Midwifery Council, United Kingdom, Oct 1978
• BSc in Nursing (Merit), Leeds Beckett University, United Kingdom, Oct 1974 – Sep 1978

Employment

• Professor Emerita of Nursing: Care for Older People, City, University London, Oct 2019 – present
• Executive Director of My Home Life, City, University London, Aug 2006 – present
• Reader (Adult Nursing), City, University of London, Oct 1996 – Sep 1999
• Consultant (Nursing Process), Charing Cross Hospital, Oct 1995 – Sep 1996
• Nurse Consultant (Research & Development), King's Healthcare NHS Trust, Oct 1995 – Sep 1996
• Lecturer (Nursing), King's College London, Oct 1990 – Sep 1996
• Professor of Nursing: Care for Older People, City, University London, Oct 1987 – Sep 1999
• Research Fellow, King's College London, Oct 1987 – Sep 1990
• Nurse Tutor, West Thames School of Nursing, London, Oct 1984 – Sep 1987
• Ward Sister (General Medicine/Endocrine), Charing Cross Hospital, Oct 1980 – Apr 1982
• Staff Nurse (Various roles), Charing Cross Hospital, Oct 1978 – Sep 1980

Visiting appointments

• Adjunct Professor of Nursing, Griffith University, Australia, 2017 – present
• Adjunct Professor, Federation University Australia, 2014 – 2017
• Adjunct Professor of Nursing, University of South Australia, 2014 – present
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, 2011 – 2014
• Adjunct Professor, Griffith University, Australia, 2010 – 2015
• Adjunct Professor of Nursing, University of South Australia, 2003 – 2010

Memberships of committees

• Member, BHiRCH Better Health in Residents in Care Homes International Advisory Group, 2016 – 2019
• Member, Translating Research into Elder Care (TREC) International Scientific Advisory Committee, 2015 – 2018
• Vice Chair, Global Ageing Network, 2013 – 2016
• Board Member, Global Ageing Network (formerly IAHSA), 2013 – 2016
• Board Director, Your Care Rating, 2012 – 2018

Memberships of professional organisations

• Member, Higher Education Academy, 2004 – present
• Member, British Society of Gerontology, 1999 – present
• Member, Association of University Teachers, 1984 – present
• Member, Royal College of Nursing, 1978 – present
• British Society of Gerontology; Collaborative Action Research Network; Royal College of Nursing; Society for the Study of Organising for Health Care; University and College Union

Awards

• University of London (2018) Leading Women 1868–2018
  In 1868, nine women were admitted to the University of London. This was the first time in Britain that women had gained access to university education and this modest event was an immensely significant moment for the University, for women and for society as a whole.
  
  The pioneering work of the University of London regarding women’s education continues. Given the extraordinary reach of the University of London and its member institutions, we can generate debate around the issue of gender equality and to actively provide opportunities for the next generation of women.
  
  Throughout 2018 the University is celebrating this 150th anniversary with a series of events and activities.
• The Queen's New Year 2015 honours (2015) Commander of the Order of the British Empire
  Awarded for services to Nursing and Care for Older People The honours system recognises people who have:
  a) made achievements in public life and b) committed themselves to serving and helping Britain. They’ll usually have made life better for other people or be outstanding at what they do. They must still be actively involved in what you’re nominating them for. Whether someone gets an honour - and the honour they get - is decided by an honours committee. The committee’s recommendations go to the Prime Minister and then to the Queen, who awards the honour. A CBE is awarded for having a prominent but lesser role at national level, or a leading role at regional level. You can also get one for a distinguished, innovative contribution to any area.
• Nursing Times (2015) Nursing Times Leaders 2015
  Nursing Times (NT) annually lists the country’s most inspirational nursing leaders at a reception in London. The individuals come from all aspects of the nursing profession including frontline patient care, management, research and academia, national organisations and charities. They include nurses and midwives at all career stages from the recently qualified to a retired nurse who now serves in the House of Lords as a crossbench peer.
  Nominees are judged on the impact of their work on nursing policy, practice or care; their influence on and understanding of how health and social care fit together; the sustainability of their achievement and the extent to which they act as role models for others.
• City, University of London (2015) The Vice Chancellor's Awards 2015
  Awarded for Research Impact
  Across the University, individuals and teams put an enormous amount of effort into helping to make City a success. The Vice-Chancellor's Awards are a way to acknowledge those contributions, recognising the achievements of Academic and Professional Services colleagues across the University.

Expertise

Geographic Areas

• Americas - North
• Australia & Oceania
• Europe

Research overview

Launching and disseminating findings from Joseph Rowntree Foundation Report Promoting Voice, Choice and Control for Older People Living in Care Homes
Gathering and analysing data from My Home Life London (The City Bridge Project)

Professor Meyer has an international reputation for expertise in appreciative action research, which uses participative and affirming methods to research attempts to improve practice.  The value of the work is not only the lessons learnt (scientific knowledge), but also, the engagement of users and providers as co-researchers in the educational process of reflecting on and learning from practice, within the context whole systems thinking (social change).  Over the last 3 years, as Director of My Home Life (MHL), her work has focused primarily on quality improvement in care homes.

Quality improvement in care homes is complex due to the need to transcend a number of traditional boundaries (health and social care; general and mental health; public and private; acute, secondary and tertiary settings).  There are over 18,000 care homes (75% privately owned) across the UK caring for approximately 400,000 older people (x3 more beds than NHS).  Due to national policies that focus on ageing in place, older people are going into care homes later and sicker.   They represent some of the most vulnerable citizens in our society.  They often have complicated health and social care needs, resulting from multiple long-term conditions, with significant levels of disability and frailty (for instance, 2/3rds of residents have dementia).  However, residents are being cared for by a predominantly social care workforce that is poorly paid, with low level or no educational qualifications. Care homes are often described as 'islands of the old', disconnected from their local communities and the wider health and social care system.  They are negatively and inappropriately portrayed by the media and not valued for the vital role they play in caring for older people who are too frail to live at home and are at end of life.  Given these changing demographics, it is widely acknowledged that care homes need support to improve standards of care; this is the focus of the My Home Life initiative (www.myhomelife.org.uk).  To do this, the MHL team engage in three main areas of work: research and development, enterprise activities and social action.

Grants

- City Bridge Trust: My Home Life London, £297,421, 2010 to 2013.
- Brighton and Hove County Council: My Home Life Brighton and Hove, £17,800, 2010 to 2011.
- Kent County Council: My Home Life Kent, £40,000, 2010 to 2012.
- Dorset County Council: My Home Life Dorset, £16,000, 2010 to 2011.
- Leeds County Council: My Home Life Leeds, £16,000, 2010 to 2011.
- Medway County Council: My Home Life Medway, £17,800, 2010 to 2011.
- DH National End of Life Programme: End of Life Dissemination Project, £13,692.00, 2010 to 2010.
- Essex County Council: MHL Essex website, £8,570, 2010 to 2010.
- Essex County Council: MHL Essex Voice Choice and Control, £25,000, 2010 to 2011.
- National Council of Palliative Care: Essex End of Life Case Study Project, £10,047.36, 2010 to 2010.
- British Geriatrics Society: BGS Care Home Project, £20,280, 2010 to 2010.
- Department of Health: Living with Dementia Dissemination Project, £40,000, 2010 to 2010.
- Haringey Primary Care Trust: Dignity in Care Project, £11,000, 2010 to 2011.
- Fremantle Trust: Clinical Supervision Project, £6,750, 2010 to 2011.
- Royal Hospital Chelsea: Nursing Leadership, £3,600, 2010 to 2011.
- Essex County Council: My Home Life Essex Phase II Project, £75,097, 2010 to 2012.
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation: Residential and Nursing Care Project, £305,419, 2009 to 2012.
- Derbyshire County Council: My Home Life Derbyshire, £25,722, 2009 to 2010.
- Essex County Council: My Home Life Essex, £24,714, 2009 to 2010.
- Bristol County Council: My Home Life Bristol, £30,320, 2009 to 2010.
- Social Care Institute for Excellence: Managing Risk and Minimising Restraint, £20,590, 2009 to 2009.
- Department of Health: My Home Life Third Sector Investment Project, £174,686, 2009 to 2012.
- Department of Health: My Home Life/Let's Respect Project, £40,000, 2009 to 2010.
- Department of Health: Dementia Care Strategy Bulletins, £5,000, 2009 to 2010.
- Abbey Total Care: Abbey Total Care Project, £30,000, 2009 to 2010.
- Haringey Primary Care Trust: Haringey Dignity Project, £28,000, 2009 to 2010.
- Barts and the London NHS Trust: Ward Sister Project, £28,603, 2009 to 2010.
- Department of Health: My Home Life Third Sector Plus Investment Project,, £128,247, 2009 to 2012.
- Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust: Leadership in Dignity Project, £500,000, 2008 to 2010.
- Wiltshire Local Authority: My Home Life Wilstshire, £36,421, 2008 to 2010.
- European Union: PROGRESS Project, £24,155, 2008 to 2010.
- Burdett Trust for Nursing: Best Practice for Older People Project, £108,179, 2008 to 2009.
- Burdett Trust for Nursing: Older People in A&E Project, £7,200, 2008 to 2008.
- Help the Aged, BUPA Giving: My Home Life Programme, £279,551, 2007 to 2009.
- City University: Ageing and Loneliness (UK arm of international study - Australia, Japan, Norway, South Africa, UK), 2006 to 2007.
- NHMRC, Australia: Nurses, older people and hospitals: meeting new challenges, $455,750, 2005 to 2007.
- Help the Aged: Realising the Vision: Quality of Life in Care Homes, £25,000, 2005 to 2006.
- North East London PALS: Appreciative Inquiry into the impact of cultural change of North East
- London Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS), £6,000, 2005 to 2006.
- North East London Workforce Development Confederation: Partnership with Care Homes Project, £250,000, 2003 to 2008.
- London NHSE O&M R&D Committee: Learning the Lessons from PALS: A qualitative evaluation of London Patient Advice & Liaison Services and development of acceptable user-centred assessment criteria for this service., £151,952, 2003 to 2005.
- Barts and The London NHS Trust: Introduction of a ward based medical team system within a General and Emergency Medicine Directorate, £67,054, 2001 to 2003.
- Barts and the London NHS Trust: An action research study on the co-ordination of interprofessional care, £59,053, 2001 to 2003.
- SNMAC, Department of Health: Caring for Older People: A Nursing Priority, £9,000, 2001 to 2002.
- Central and East London Education Consortium: CELEC Action Research Project: Care for Older People, £1,081,008, 2000 to 2003.
- Lambeth and Soutwark and Lewisham Health Authority: Hospital Discharge Project, £105,000, 2000 to 2002.
- Epsom & St Helier NHS Trust: The Experience of Care of Older End-Stage Renal Patients In Receipt of Long-Term Dialysis, £20,186, 2000 to 2002.
- Forest Healthcare NHS Trust: Evaluation of a Hospital Day Ward Commissioned Study, £15,184, 2000 to 2000.
- Forest Healthcare NHS Trust: Older people's use of A&E, £18,000, 1998 to 1999.
- The Homerton Hospital NHS Trust: Improving the Rehabilitation Care of Older People, £31,738, 1998 to 1998.
- North Thames NHSE: Defining the Nursing Contribution, £6,000, 1998 to 1998.
- DoH Building Partnerships for Success: Community Care Development Programme & DoH Social Care Division (project extension): Working with and for older people to promote seamless care, £99,947 + £35,000, 1997 to 2000.
- Forest Healthcare NHS Trust: An Action Research Study into the Organisation of Care for Older People in the A&E Department, £60,800, 1997 to 1998.
- CAIPE: Interprofessional Education in Wales, £14,260, 1997 to 1997.
- Health Policy and Public Health Directorate of LSLHA: Exploratory Study to Describe the Progress of Elderly Individuals Placed under Band 1 of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Health Authority Continuing Care Guidelines, £9,000, 1997 to 1997.

Research students

Publications by category