York research unit wins national recognition
Posted on 1 May 2009
The Social Policy Research Unit (SPRU) is one of the School’s founding members and will be a major contributor to its research programme. The School will conduct primary research as well as commissioning work from other specialist academics and departments.
As funding becomes tighter, it is essential that practice developments are underpinned by clear evidence of what works, for different groups of service users
Professor Caroline Glendinning
The School’s mission is to develop the evidence base for adult social care practice in England by commissioning and conducting world-class research.
The Department of Health has funded major programmes of research on adult social care by SPRU since 1995. The Unit’s research for the School will be carried out by an experienced team with broad disciplinary and methodological expertise.
SPRU has a long record of research with both social care staff and with service users and carers, some with communication impairments. It has an outstanding track record in conducting and disseminating research to improve policy and practice in adult social care.
Professor Caroline Glendinning, Assistant Director of SPRU, will join the Executive Group of the new School. She said: “It is great news that SPRU’s long-standing reputation for conducting and disseminating research in adult social care has been recognised through its membership of the School.”
“We have an ageing society with more people with complex support needs, and there is increased emphasis on choice and personalised care. But as funding becomes tighter, it is essential that practice developments are underpinned by clear evidence of what works, for different groups of service users.”
The School’s other founding members are the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of Kent, King’s College, London and Manchester University.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- More information on the University of York’s Social Policy Research Unit at www.york.ac.uk/spru/
- More information on School for Social Care Research at www.lse.ac.uk/collections/nihrsscr
Contact details
Rachel Pitman
Tel: 01904 321981