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Research on the financing of adult social care in England resulted in the development of a full simulation model of the social care economy. This has allowed for the quantification of the costs and benefits of different funding reform options. The research has hence allowed for identification of the limitations of the current financing of social care, and has been relied on by the Government and by the Dilnot Commission in the formulation of new funding policies. It has also been used by social care groups (such as Age UK) to highlight the problems facing the funding of social care.
Research by Professor Les Mayhew and Professor Ben Rickayzen at City University London on the question of how the public sector and the private market might jointly establish a better way of funding long-term care for the elderly has influenced policy thinking and development within the Treasury, the Department of Health, the Dilnot Commission, the actuarial profession and among ministers and parliamentarians. Evidence is provided here that shows that their research on population ageing has had an impact at the highest levels in Whitehall. In addition, Mayhew's work on integrated health and social care for Brent Council has helped to transform services at local level and provides a model that could be replicated more widely.
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.
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.
The research has had significant impact in the UK on the development of social and spiritual support for people at the end of life and their families. With Professor Holloway as Social Care Lead on the National End of Life Care Programme (NEoLCP) since 2009, the research has underpinned the launch of a framework for the delivery of social care at the end of life which is now in its second phase of implementation. The framework is endorsed by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and has led to local and regional Action Plans and social care practice initiatives. The research on spirituality has led to scoping and training initiatives in healthcare practice and in the funerals industry within the UK and internationally.
Although essential for coping with escalating health and social care demands, adoption of `remote care' — telecare and telehealth — has been slow. Professor Barlow's research group provided evidence to establish how remote care can be sustainably and efficiently embedded into healthcare. They then helped design and evaluate the Department of Health's Whole System Demonstrators, the world's largest trial of remote care. As a consequence, the government launched the 3 Million Lives programme in January 2012, with an estimated potential net benefit to the NHS of £450m over the next 5 years. Research taken up by the Audit Commission and TSB/DTI has further influenced UK remote care policy by developing the evidence base and evaluating gaps in basic research.
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.
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.
Quality of care for the increasing numbers of frail older people is an issue of international concern. Led by Professor Meyer at City University London, in partnership with Age UK and Dementia UK, My Home Life (MHL) is a collaborative movement of people involved with care homes for older people. It was established to improve the quality of life of everyone connected with care homes for older people and has become the recognised voice for the sector. The original underpinning research and ensuing projects all focused on knowledge translation, in particular the factors that enhance quality improvement in care homes. MHL actively works with care homes to progress quality improvement and share the lessons learned throughout the system. The programme has had a significant impact on both policy and practice in health and social care, influencing Government policy and supporting practice improvement across national and international borders.
Research carried out in the International Observatory on End of Life Care (IOELC) at Lancaster University led by Professor Payne has played a major role in influencing the strategic direction of service and policy development globally. IOELC initiated the systematic collation of development data and delivered the first research-based international analysis of the development of palliative care. For example, research on access to opioids in 12 resource poor countries in central and eastern Europe via the ATOME project has delivered major impact, leading to significant changes in legislation and policy and improved access to pain medication, and palliative and end of life care for millions of people around the world.