1. m.knapp@lse.ac.uk Knappem
Social Care Research
Martin Knapp
Care Policy & Evaluation Centre (CPEC; formerly PSSRU), London School of Economics & Political Science
Knappem
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR): improving the health and wealth of the nation through research.
Established by the Department of Health, the NIHR:
funds high quality research to improve health
trains and supports health researchers
provides world-class research facilities
works with the life sciences industry and charities to benefit all
involves patients and the public at every step
Example key stats:
In 2016/17:
more than 665,000 people participated in clinical research studies through the NIHR
£37 million was invested in dementia research
Nearly 28,000 participants were recruited into clinical research associated with dementias and neurodegeneration
£150 million of industry funding was generated
we supported 3,176 industry collaborative and contract research studies
we supported 3,678 trainees through a range of career development and training programmes
almost £250 million was spent on research programmes across the NIHR
more than £75 million was generated from exploiting intellectual property
For science audience
The NIHR...
Is the major funder of applied research for the NHS, public health and social care.
Funds translational research to speed the transition from basic science to practice.
Is the main funder of training in health research.
Involves patients and the public in research.
Provides the infrastructure through which others, including industry and charities, can undertake research

2. Adult social care
“Adults with care needs cannot perform activities of daily living such as washing, taking medicine, paperwork, cooking and shopping without support.
Care needs may be short-lived, long-term or permanent, and are difficult to plan for.
Needs can arise from disability from birth; physical injury; mental health problems; health conditions such as dementia; discharge from hospital, perhaps after a fall or fracture; or ill-health of an informal carer.
Social care and health care needs can overlap and be difficult to distinguish and define. For example, an individual may be in good health but have care needs”. (National Audit Office 2014)

3. Children’s social care
Services which help children, young people, their parents, relatives and carers including:
Assessment of children in need and their families
Help when people want to adopt and afterwards
Foster care for young people unable to live at home
Advice to young homeless people & young people leaving care
Protection to safeguard a child who is in danger or at risk of physical, emotional or sexual abuse
Support when children are disabled or have special needs
Advice & information about caring for children

4. National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
Social care emphases within NIHR
NIHR School for Social Care Research – Phase III
Research for Patient Benefit social care call (2018, …)
Policy Research Units (especially ASCRU)
Applied Research Collaborations
Commissioned calls (e.g. HS&DR, Policy Research Programme)
Working with other funders (e.g. UKRI, research charities) to (e.g.) coordinate aims and develop capacity

5. NIHR SSCR,
Mission: “to develop the evidence base to inform and improve adult social care practice in England by commissioning and conducting internationally leading research.”
Phase III – (£18m + £1.8m + …)
LSE, King’s College London, Universities of Birmingham, Bristol, Kent, Manchester & York
Internal research projects commissioned from member universities
External call - deadline for outline proposals: 17th July
Major new capacity-development programme jointly with NIHR Academy

6. Interconnections between HSR & social care research
BUT …
… please don’t ever think that social care (research) is important simply because of its relevance for health services (research) …
… It’s important in its own right.
Social care users & carers are usually health service patients; good social care can improve health & save NHS money
Patients with LT complex conditions often have social care needs; good health care can reduce social care needs & costs
Public health & social care are both led from local authorities
Some services are co-located, jointly funded or delivered
Strategic policy has emphasised ‘joined-up’ health & social care for many years
Social care research can benefit from (sensible) application of methods more commonly found in HSR …
… and from recruitment / collaboration with (sensible) HSRers
And surely we should develop joint HSR & social care studies

7. Thank you
NEXT …
Richard Humphries (King’s Fund) Social care: policy, pressures & prospects
Jill Manthorpe (King’s College London) Social care research: doing it, using it, being it
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this presentation are those of the presenter and not necessarily of the NIHR, School for Social Care Research, Department of Health and Social Care or NHS.
@NIHRSSCR @Knappem