Current / recently completed research

The preferences of older self-funders navigating community social care (the PRESENCE study)January 2020 - December 2021

Investigating the preferences and decisions of older self-funders of community social care as they navigate the system.

Scoping the evidence on the use and effectiveness of decision aids in adult social careDecember 2019 - March 2020

This study will assess the research evidence about, and current availability of, online decision aids in adult social care

Supporting Adult Social Care Innovation (SASCI)September 2019 - September 2024

This study is building evidence to support the adult social care sector to start up, implement and spread innovation.

Independent financial advice about funding social care in later life – a project exploring evidence and practiceNovember 2016 – December 2017

This study explored existing research and current practice regarding independent financial advice about funding social care in older age.

Exploring the contribution of the social work role in CMHTs for working age adults and older people October 2016 - 30 April 2019

A study to explore the unique contribution of social workers to community mental health teams.

Workplace Personal Assistants: exploring the role of workplace personal assistants for physically disabled peopleJanuary 2016 - September 2017

An exploration of the role of workplace personal assistants and their relationships with disabled people and colleagues.

Completed research

Risk, safety and safeguarding: understanding and application of concepts and implications for integrated care servicesJanuary 2014 - April 2014

This research aims to explore conceptual understandings of risk, safety and safeguarding in different organisational contexts and assess whether any differences might impact on effective integrated service provision or act as barriers to closer working and integration of health and social care.

People who fund their own social care: a scoping reviewJanuary 2014 - April 2014

This was a short, relatively limited scoping review that aimed rapidly to map recent published evidence about people who fund their own social care, complemented by a focussed search of the websites of key organisations and, if time permitted, a small number of semi-structured interviews with key informants.

Risk, safeguarding and personal budgets: exploring relationships and identifying good practiceNovember 2012 - April 2014

This study explored the relationships between safeguarding and personalisation. Safeguarding is about enabling people to maintain independence, well-being and choice, as well as the right to live a life free from abuse and neglect. Personalisation is about tailoring services to the needs of the end user.

Personal budgets, direct payments and self-directed support for people with severe mental health problemsJanuary 2012 - December 2013

There is limited evidence of the effectiveness of personalised care in mental health services. This project will carry out initial research to inform the development of a full evaluation programme of personalised care (comprising a personal budget or direct payment and self-directed support), subject to feasibility testing, to provide gold standard evidence of its effectiveness.

Personalisation and carers: the roles of carers in assessment, support planning and managing personal budgetsJanuary 2011 - September 2013

This project will examine how far current practice in social care recognises and balances the needs and interests of service users and informal carers; and how far this practice is consistent with what service users and carers actually want. Clarifying the role of carers within personalisation is particularly important for service users with communication and/or cognitive impairments who depend on carers to communicate their needs and wishes.

Exploring the effects of the economic slowdown on adult social careMarch 2009 - November 2009

This study aims to explore the effects - positive and negative, direct and indirect - of the economic downturn on social care and support services and the consequent impacts on service users.

The LIPOP project: life in paediatric oncology: development and validation of a measure of work-related stresors and rewardsFebruary 2009 – January 2011

The purpose of this project is to develop a measure of the work-related stressors and rewards experienced by staff working in multi-disciplinary teams in paediatric and adolescent oncology treatment centres (doctors, nurses, social workers, play specialists and youth workers).