Understanding and improving fairness in adult social care needs assessment
This study aims to understand and improve how local councils in England assess people's needs for social care. Currently, this process, which determines who receives help, is often seen as unclear and unfair, with big differences between councils. Researchers want to find out how councils make these decisions and what people who use social care, and the wider public, think makes an assessment fair. The project hopes to change the assessment processes to make them more open and even-handed. It involves talking to council staff and people with social care experience, as well as a public survey. The ultimate goal is to ensure a fairer system for everyone needing social care support.
At a glance
What is this study about?
Imagine needing some help with daily life, like getting dressed or managing your home. Before you can get support from your local council, you first have to go through something called a "needs assessment." This is a really important step because it decides what help you might get, how it affects your well-being, and what your goals are.
However, we've noticed some issues with how these assessments are done. Firstly, it's not always clear how councils actually make these decisions. While many people find the process difficult, most research has focused on the end result (like a support plan) rather than how councils get there. Secondly, many people don't feel the process is fair, and there's a lot of concern about how consistent the decisions are from one council to another.
This project aims to tackle these problems head-on. We want to understand exactly how and why local councils decide on a particular type of needs assessment for adults. We also want to hear from people who have used social care, and from the public, about what they believe a fair needs assessment looks like. Ultimately, by gathering this information, we hope to improve the current assessment processes, making them more transparent and fairer for everyone in England who needs social care support.
Key takeaways
- Aims to make social care needs assessments fairer.
- Investigates why people find needs assessments difficult.
- Involves interviews with council staff and people with social care experience.
- Includes a large public survey to gather opinions.
- Could help improve how social care is decided across England.
- Participants can receive a voucher for their time.
Who may be eligible?
This study is looking for two main groups of people to take part.
Firstly, we are looking for staff members from local councils in England. To be eligible, they must have direct experience either carrying out needs assessments themselves, or managing staff who do these assessments, as set out by the Care Act 2014. They also need to be currently working in this area.
Secondly, we want to hear from people who have experience with social care. This includes adults aged between 18 and 80 years old who have personally had a needs assessment under the Care Act 2014 in England. It also includes carers for someone who has had such an assessment, meaning they have some experience with the process. Everyone taking part must be able to give their consent to be involved.
Could this study suit you?
Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.
- Are you staff at an English local council involved in needs assessments?
- Do you have direct experience with a Care Act 2014 needs assessment (or are you a carer for someone who does)?
- Are you between 18 and 80 years old?
- Can you give your consent to take part in the study?
- Is your experience with social care from within England?
What does participation involve?
Taking part in this study involves two main activities. If you are a local council staff member or someone with social care experience, you might be asked to take part in an interview. These interviews will explore your experiences and opinions on social care needs assessments. For council staff, we will also look at public documents like websites and application forms related to their assessment processes.
Another part of the study involves a public survey. We'll first do some shorter online interviews with a small group of people to help us design the main survey. The main survey, which around 1,000 people will complete, will ask about what factors are most important to the public when it comes to social care needs assessments. The study is planned to run from August 2024 to April 2026.
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (1)
- The University of YorkApproximateYork, England
Common questions
What is a 'needs assessment'?
It's the process your local council uses to work out what help you might need with daily tasks and how best to support you.
Why is this study being done?
The study wants to understand why people find needs assessments difficult and if they are fair, so they can be improved for everyone.
Who is funding this research?
It's funded by the National Institute for Social Care and Health Research, a UK-based organisation.
Will I get paid for taking part?
If you have an interview, you'll receive a £50 voucher. Those who complete the public survey will be paid based on the survey's length.
Can I stop taking part if I change my mind?
Yes, you are free to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason.
How to find out more
Jed Meers
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
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