Summary of the impact

Bournemouth University (BU) has facilitated improvements to health and social care practice through cultural change in care provision. Researchers developed a practice development framework for implementing and assessing the delivery of evidence-based practice in 82 UK health and social care units during the impact period. Benefits to staff include better communication and team structure. Benefits to patients include higher standards of cleanliness, privacy and dignity, as well as a decrease in length of hospital stays and appointment waiting times. Delivery has extended to cover entire NHS Trusts serving a resident population of over 3.5 million, social services departments and third sector organisations across the south of England and beyond. The research has since been applied to develop a similar system in Australia.

Summary of the impact

This case study details the impact of Stephen Howlett's research on the development of third sector volunteer management practices. Howlett's research investigates the sector's capacity to address the management of volunteers, especially in the context of unpaid workforce formalisation, and the means by which both organisations and volunteers gain from involvement. Through a series of operational reviews, reports, and professional thinking and action in the UK and internationally, this research has had an impact on the sector in two ways; 1) it has directly influenced policy and practice within specific organisations and 2) has impacted strategic thinking within the wider sector.

Summary of the impact

In a period of national questioning of social work quality, Sussex research has significantly influenced the curricula content of and entry standards for social work education (SWE). New guidelines set admissions standards for all English social work courses, resulting in better quality candidates. Law teaching has been shaped by a new curriculum guide based on our research, as well as the development of prize-winning educational resources. Social workers feel better equipped to communicate with children through contributions to new curricula requirements, textbooks to improve teaching, and direct influence — via Continuing Professional Development — on the quality of communications.

Summary of the impact

Inter-professional collaboration to prevent social exclusion of children and young people is an emergent work practice, reflecting major changes in welfare policy in the UK and beyond. Research conducted at Oxford since 2005 on these systemic changes, and the new demands they have made on practitioners and services, has contributed to the reconfiguration of children's services locally and nationally, and to the analysis and planning of services beyond the UK. Knowledge exchange is built into the studies to produce immediate and long-term impact on practices and policies, and findings have been integrated into commissioned reports, teaching materials for service leaders, and practitioner and policy summaries.

Summary of the impact

Work-related stress and work-life conflict are the biggest health and safety challenges in the UK with considerable costs to the economy as well as employees and their families. Research conducted by Professor Kinman over the last 15 years has made a significant contribution to enhancing knowledge of the mechanisms underpinning work-related well-being and ways in which this can be enhanced. In recognition of the unique nature of Kinman's work, the UoB is widely recognised as a centre of excellence in this field. Kinman has advised organisations, predominantly in the public sector, on ways to manage stress and enhance work-life balance and resilience. The significance and reach of this work has been demonstrated, most notably with academic employees and social workers. It has been used to develop interventions and informed changes to policy and practice at a national level in these sectors.

Summary of the impact

A major element of modernising English adult social care is the introduction of individual, user-directed budgets. The Social Policy Research Unit (SPRU) led a major, multi-method and multi-centre research programme evaluating the Individual Budget (IB) pilot projects in England; and a linked study of the impact of IBs on family carers. Through this, SPRU has influenced: the content of the Department of Health's (DH) good practice guidance for personal budgets; the DH's approach to piloting and evaluating NHS Personal Health Budgets; the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) piloting and evaluation of `Right to Control' trailblazer projects; and, the agenda for an Audit Commission investigation into financial management of personal budgets. Most importantly, it has helped shape the agenda for national and local organisations striving to successfully implement personal budgets, particularly for older people.

Summary of the impact

This research improved policy-makers' and practitioners' understanding of well-being among residents of social care facilities by identifying the factors contributing to residents' quality of life. This research resulted in the development of the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT), whose use is rapidly increasing both in the UK and internationally. Evidence from beneficiaries including policy-makers, experts and service practitioners, as well as interviews with service users, indicates that ASCOT captures aspects of well-being that are highly valued by service users and policy-makers alike.

Summary of the impact

Adult Social Care (ASC) is a growing sector which currently employs 1.6 million care workers and benefits 1.8 million care recipients. Research carried out by Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) into the recruitment, development and retention of ASC workers has had a direct impact on ASC policy, management practice and human resource (HR) practice.

In the area of health, welfare and public policy, the primary research impact was on the Adult Social Care Recruitment and Retention Strategy 2011. Among ASC managers and HR practitioners, the research findings informed and stimulated debate over the conduct of ASC work and the benefits of good HR practice.

Summary of the impact

The importance of person-centred social support has been recognised by successive governments as central to the development of effective and supportive social care services. The research led by Brunel and funded by the DoH and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, made a substantial contribution to the enhancement of UK social care policy and practice in relation to the personalisation agenda. Parliamentary committees and policy consultation used the research to develop new social care policy. Standards of service care delivery were developed and implemented in partnership with service users; these were adopted at a policy and practice level. The development and use of evidence based practice guides, training programmes and web resources facilitated the successful adoption and implementation of person-centred support nationwide. In summary, public debate was influenced, equality and empowerment for service users was advanced, national policy and practice enhanced, health and welfare improved and economic impacts achieved.

Summary of the impact

The research has had significant impact in three key areas:

• shaping the Care Bill 2013: it influenced the Law Commission's recommendations on legal reform and directly shaped key elements of the legislation;
• stimulating changes to the governance arrangements of Safeguarding Adults Boards (SABs): it produced a benchmarking template for SABs, informed guidance to Directors, and led to strengthened SAB governance arrangements;
• influencing procedures, practice and workforce development strategies in self-neglect work: supporting new multi-agency procedures in localities, and providing an evidence base that has improved capacity assessment and approaches to intervention, to the benefit of service-users.