Social Care Workforce Research Partnership (short title: Care Work)

Focus of the partnership We propose a Research Practice Partnership (RPP) to generate evidence on how to foster an effective, competent, and well-supported social care workforce in England. We have identified four core themes: 1) labour supply, demand and markets; 2) wellbeing; 3) innovation in work organisation, conditions and role design; and 4) data and technology. Partnership expertise We have the knowledge, skills and expertise to co-design, deliver and disseminate high impact research relating to the social care workforce. The partnership is underpinned by real world workforce knowledge, via the involvement of four local authorities (Kent, Bexley, Tameside, Leeds) and three national social care sector organisations: • Skills for Care – the workforce development and planning body. • The National Care Forum – membership organisation for not-for-profit providers. • The Home Care Association – professional association focused on home care. Researchers are a multidisciplinary team of recognised leaders in their fields, with expertise in health and social care, human resources, labour economics, work and wellbeing, and employment. Community involvement and engagement (CIE) CIE and the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are core to the partnership. The partnership builds on consultations and priority setting with frontline staff and people with lived experience. Two national CIE advisory groups, representing staff and lived experiences, will be involved in design, delivery and dissemination throughout. Each co-designed research project will incorporate CIE input and co-research opportunities. Four CIE members will also contribute to the partnership’s governance. People will be reimbursed for their time at NIHR rates. Research plan: Phase 1: Scoping and Study 1 (0-18 months) Three parallel work packages: (1) Co-design: with CIE groups, sector partners and national consultation groups (one per theme) to agree the research questions for up to 4 studies in years three to five. (2) Horizon scanning: rapid reviews of the evidence and newly funded research will help identify evidence gaps. We will share what we find in an evidence repository on our website, updated regularly throughout the partnership. (3) Study 1: Attracting, recruiting and retaining younger people to social care - an identified research priority, using mixed methods. A virtual ‘community of practice’ will provide opportunities for knowledge exchange, dissemination and engagement with stakeholders. Phase 2: Develop and Refine (18-24 months) Building on Phase 1, we will co-design up to 4 studies (one per theme), led by team members with the right combination of skills and expertise. Projects will use appropriate methods, leveraging existing data sources, such as the Adult Social Care-Workforce Data Set. Projects will be reviewed by the funder. Ethical approval will be sought where necessary. Phase 3: Research active (months 24-26) The research studies will be underway. We will publish the results of Phases 1 and 2 and write a report reviewing the progress and success of the partnership in meeting its aims and objectives. Phase 4: Research delivery and dissemination (months 36-60) Completion of data collection, analysis and final report. Dissemination through evidence briefings, summaries, blogs, creative outputs (like videos, infographics) and academic outputs. The partnership website will host materials and an evidence repository.