Dr Alexis Foster

BA (Hons) MPH PhD

School of Medicine and Population Health

Senior Research Fellow

Research Design Service Advisor

alexis.foster@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 6129
3012, Regent Court, Regent Court (ScHARR)

Full contact details

Dr Alexis Foster
School of Medicine and Population Health
3012, Regent Court
Regent Court (ScHARR)
30 Regent Street
Sheffield
S1 4DA
Profile

I am a mixed-methods researcher specialising in the voluntary sector including charities and community groups (VCSEs) and social prescribing. I use participatory action research approaches to involve stakeholders and influence practice. I have worked as a researcher since 2011, mainly based in the Health and Care Research Unit. Before then, I worked in and with the voluntary sector. I am still actively involved in the voluntary sector as a trustee.

My areas of expertise include:

Supporting the VCSE Paid Workforce- I am leading an NIHR funded multi-case action research study exploring how to improve professional support for paid staff within the voluntary sector (Implementing professional support for the voluntary sector workforce: A multi-case action research study - NIHR Funding and Awards). This study is working in partnership with people from the voluntary sector. We are using action research to improve support for paid staff with the longer-term aim of reducing staff burnout and improving staff retention.

Social Prescribing- I have conducted a number of studies focused on social prescribing. This includes an evaluation of a national British Red Cross social prescribing service for people experiencing loneliness (Impact of social prescribing to address loneliness: A mixed methods evaluation of a national social prescribing programme - Foster - 2021 - Health & Social Care in the Community - Wiley Online Library) and an evaluation of a UK Government funded Green Social Prescribing programme National Evaluation of the Preventing and Tackling Mental Ill Health through Green Social Prescribing Project: Final Report - March 2021 to June 2023 | Sheffield Hallam University

Developing evaluation/research and impact capacity within Local Authorities and Voluntary Sector Organisations- I work with local authorities and voluntary sector organisations to support them to develop skills in research/evaluation and impact. For example I work on the Doncaster Health Determinants Research Collaboration ( Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) Doncaster - City of Doncaster Council. Another example is supporting voluntary sector organisations with implementing outcome measures https://issuu.com/niftyfoxcreative/docs/proms_booklet_final

Systems mapping process evaluation- I am conducting a systems mapping process evaluation of an intervention aimed to reduce excess weight amongst young children (Henry III study - Henry III study, University of York)

Improving diagnosis and treatment pathways with a health inequalities perspective- I work on studies which aim to improve diagnosis and treatment pathways especially for people experiencing healthy inequalities. Recent examples include for people experiencing Painful Neuropathy and Molar Pregnancies. I lead on the qualitative work and stakeholder engagement- especially in terms of utilising study findings to improve services. 

Qualifications

BA (Hons)- Social Science and Politics- 1st Class- University of Sheffield, MPH- Distinction, University of Sheffield, PhD- University of Sheffield 

Research interests

My main areas are the voluntary sector and social prescribing. I am also passionate about research that seeks to improve services especially in terms of non-medical pathways. and the wider socioeconomic determinants of health. 
 

Publications

Journal articles

  • Pilbery R, Sampson FC, Herbert E, Goodacre S, Bell F, Spaight R, Rosser A, Webster P, Millins M, Pountney A , Coster J et al (2025) . BMJ Open, 15(3).
  • Foster A, Caunt S, Schofield H, Glerum–Brooks K, Begum S, Gleeson P, Prestwich G & Baird W (2024) . Research Involvement and Engagement, 10.
  • Holding E, Gettings R, Foster A, Dowrick L, Hampshaw S, Haywood A, Homer C, Booth A & Goyder E (2024) . Public Health in Practice, 7.
  • Bryant M, Burton W, Collinson M, Martin A, Copsey B, Groves-Williams D, Foster A, Willis TA, Garnett P & O'Cathain A (2024) . BMJ Open, 14(3).
  • Holding E, Foster A, Lumley E, Gilbertson J, Roxby S, Portman D, Holliday J, Peace A, Del Rosario I, Kahn W , Blank L et al (2023) . Health and Social Care in the Community, 2023.
  • Thompson J, Holding E, Haywood A & Foster A (2023) . Health & Social Care in the Community, 2023.
  • O’Cathain A, Foster A, Carroll C, Preston L, Ogden M, Clowes M & Protheroe J (2022) . Health and Social Care Delivery Research, 10(38).
  • Foster A, Holding E, Lumley E, Roxby S, Portman D, Holliday J, Peace A, Del Rosario I, Khan W, Brenman A , Gillett M et al (2022) . Public Health in Practice, 4.
  • Foster A, O’Cathain A, Harris J, Weston G, Andrews L & Andreeva O (2022) . Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes, 6(1).
  • Mountain G, Wright J, Cooper CL, Lee E, Sprange K, Beresford-Dent J, Young T, Walters S, Berry K, Dening T , Loban A et al (2022) . Health Technology Assessment, 26(24), 1-151.
  • Harris J, Springett J, Mathews D, Weston G & Foster A (2021) . Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice.
  • Foster A, Wood E & Clowes M (2021) . Journal of Nursing Management, 29(6), 1639-1652.
  • Foster A, Thompson J, Holding E, Ariss S, Mukuria C, Jacques R, Akparido R & Haywood A (2021) . Health & Social Care in the Community, 29(5), 1439-1449.
  • Foster A, O'Cathain A & Harris J (2020) . BMJ Open, 10.
  • Holding E, Thompson J, Foster A & Haywood A (2020) . Health & Social Care in the Community, 28(5), 1535-1543.
  • Wright J, Foster A, Cooper C, Sprange K, Walters S, Berry K, Moniz-Cook E, Loban A, Young TA, Craig C , Dening T et al (2019) . BMJ Open, 9(9).
  • Foster A, Croot L, Brazier J, Harris J & O'Cathain A (2018) . Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes, 2.
  • Salisbury C, O'Cathain A, Thomas C, Edwards L, Montgomery A, Hollinghurst S, Large S, Nicholl J, Pope C, Rogers A , Lewis G et al (2017) . Programme Grants for Applied Research, 5(1).
  • Saxon D, Barkham M, Foster A & Parry G (2017) . Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 24(3), 575-588.
  • Dixon P, Hollinghurst S, Ara R, Edwards L, Foster A & Salisbury C (2016) . BMJ Open, 6(9).
  • Dixon P, Hollinghurst S, Edwards L, Thomas C, Gaunt D, Foster A, Large S, Montgomery AA & Salisbury C (2016) . BMJ Open, 6(8).
  • Dixon P, Hollinghurst S, Edwards L, Thomas C, Foster A, Davies B, Gaunt D, Montgomery AA & Salisbury C (2016) . British Journal of Psychiatry Open, 2(4), 262-269.
  • O'Cathain A, Drabble SJ, Foster A, Horspool K, Edwards L, Thomas C & Salisbury C (2016) . JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH, 18(6).
  • Salisbury C, O'Cathain A, Thomas C, Edwards L, Gaunt D, Dixon P, Hollinghurst S, Nicholl J, Large S, Yardley L , Fahey T et al (2016) . BMJ, 2016.
  • Salisbury C, O'Cathain A, Edwards L, Thomas C, Gaunt D, Hollinghurst S, Nicholl J, Large S, Yardley L, Lewis G , Foster A et al (2016) . The Lancet Psychiatry.
  • Edwards L, Salisbury C, Horspool K, Foster A, Garner K & Montgomery AA (2016) . Trials, 17.
  • Foster A, Horspool KA, Edwards L, Thomas CL, Salisbury C, Montgomery AA & O'Cathain A (2015) . Trials, 16(1).
  • Chambers E, Cook S, Thake A, Foster A, Shaw S, Hutten R, Parry G & Ricketts T (2015) . BMC Psychiatry, 15.
  • Kilgarriff-Foster A & O'Cathain A (2015) . Journal of Public Mental Health, 14(3), 127-134.
  • Tosh J, Ben K, Brennan A, Parry G, Ricketts T, Saxon D, Kilgarriff-Foster A, Thake A, Chambers E & Hutten R (2013) Innovation in Health Economic Modelling of Service Improvements for Longer-Term Depression: Demonstration in a Local Health Community. JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH POLICY AND ECONOMICS, 16, S34-S35.
  • Tosh J, Kearns B, Brennan A, Parry G, Ricketts T, Saxon D, Kilgarriff-Foster A, Thake A, Chambers E & Hutten R (2013) . BMC Health Serv Res, 13, 150.

Conference proceedings

  • Holding E, Foster A, Lumley E, Brennan A, Gillett M & Goyder E (2021) . The Lancet, Vol. 398(Supplement 2) (pp S53-S53). Virtual conference, 25 November 2021 - 25 November 2021.

Reports

  • Haywood A, Dayson C, Garside R, Foster A, Lovell R, Husk K, Holding E, Thompson J, Shearn K, Hunt H , Dobson J et al (2023) National Evaluation of the Preventing and Tackling Mental Ill Health through Green Social Prescribing Project
Research group

Health and Care Research Unit 

Grants

NIHR HSDR- Implementing professional support for the voluntary sector workforce: A multi-case action research study (https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR159286) (PI: Alexis Foster)


 

Teaching interests

I am passionate about supporting students to undertake research with the Voluntary sector.

Teaching activities

I supervise Masters Dissertations and PhDs. I am taking on PhD students. 
 

Professional activities and memberships

I am a member of the NIHR- Health and Care Services Delivery Research Funding Panel.
I am a member of the School of Medicine and Population Health Athena SWAN Committee.
I review funding applications for the NIHR and review articles for a variety of journals.
I mentor early career researchers and clinicians/ public health workers.

Links