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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.
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.
This research into what is believed to be one of the largest care home closures programmes in Europe had three key impacts in terms of:
Research led by Professor Sue Yeandle at Leeds on working age carers has focused policymakers' attention on carers' contributions to society, their role in the health and social care system, and the issues they confront in reconciling paid work with unpaid care. The research findings have: (a) provided a vital evidence base, shaping policy work of the national charity, Carers UK, (b) influenced Government policy formation and evaluation, including playing a direct role in shaping the Government's National Care Strategy in 2008, and (c) informed wider policy and parliamentary debate supporting carers of working age.
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.
The law regulating social care services for disabled and elderly adults, and their carers, had been unreformed for over 60 years. Reform had been inhibited by the law's complexity, the rapid growth in community dependency (due to deinstitutionalisation and the growth in the numbers of elderly people) and the lack of political consensus on the direction reform should take. Fundamental demographic and societal change over the last 20 years has made the failure of the legislation to address the support needs of unpaid carers and those for whom they care an even more pressing issue. As a result of a sustained period of research, academic publication and Parliamentary action by Clements, this area of law is now being reformed. Both the Westminster Parliament and the National Assembly in Wales have been scrutinising Public Bills (the Care Bill 2013 in England and, in Wales, the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill 2013). Despite significant social policy research on this fundamental issue, Clements was almost alone in highlighting the legal dimensions. He thereby made a major contribution to public discourse on this question and played a key role in bringing about legal change.
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.
The Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU) at the University of Manchester (UoM) has run a programme of research examining community care of older people since 1996. The findings have informed key government decision-making around two important national policy initiatives between 2008 and 2013: (1) the development and implementation of Personal Budgets in Social and Health Care and (2) National Strategies to improve Dementia Services. This has affected the national provision of social care for older people and other adult social care users. In 2011-12, there were over 1.2 million people in England receiving social care affected by these policy changes (over 800,000 aged 65+), with a cost of £6,600m spent on their care (NHS and Social Care Information Centre).
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.
The University of Nottingham's Sue Ryder Care Centre for the Study of Supportive, Palliative and End of Life Care has enhanced the understanding, implementation and uptake of advance care planning for end of life care. Its work has shaped public policy and influenced national initiatives that have improved quality of life and reduced the number of deaths in hospitals. The research has been cited as an exemplar by the World Health Organisation and has helped inform policymaking at European level. It has guided professional practice, educated care staff and contributed to a more positive public attitude towards talking about end of life issues.