Social Care Workforce
Research Initiative 2007-10
Hazel Qureshi
Marie McNay
Policy Research Programme
Outline
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Policy aspirations and reality
Aims of the DH initiative
Aims of coordination
Overview of projects
Policy Research Programme
Workforce Composition
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922,000 people (87% in adult social care)
30,000+ employers
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12% local authorities - area office/field work staff
18% domiciliary care
10% day care services
50% care homes
3% agency staff
7% NHS staff
Skills for Care The State of the Social Care Workforce Report 2004
Policy Research Programme
Aims of this Research Initiative
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To generate knowledge, based on rigorous
research, that will:
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Improve our understanding of the individual,
organisational and wider socio-economic factors affecting
recruitment, retention and quality of the social care
workforce
Examine the impact of developments in the social care
workforce on the quality of care provided to service users;
Inform the future development of workforce-related
strategies designed to achieve improvement in the
outcomes of social care.
Policy Research Programme
Improving Understanding
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Individual
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Organisational
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Motivation, attitudes, beliefs, history
Work allocation, training, recruitment,
induction, support, supervision, culture
Wider socio-economic
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Central and local policies, labour markets,
migration, state of the economy, family
structures, technology
Policy Research Programme
Quality and outcomes
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Quality of service
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Staff
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Logistics
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Competence
Manner, how they relate to you
How well organised
Outcomes
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Quality of life maintained or improved
Feeling valued and treated with respect
Policy Research Programme
Aims of Coordination
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Support connections between researchers, and
between researchers and research users
Links with other research
Encourage and support methodological
innovation within and across the individual
studies
Identify and/or develop intellectual connections
between the individual studies
Policy Research Programme
Overview
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Recruitment and Retention (3)
Training, Skills and Qualifications (2)
Graduating in Social Work (2)
New Ways of Working (2)
Policy Research Programme
Projects 2007-10
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Varying lengths
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6 months to 3 years
Range of reports and feedback
events planned (see my poster)
Further seminars and other
coordination to be planned in the
light of discussions today
Policy Research Programme