Identifying key components of research capacity in social care to strengthen their ability to use and produce research, shape future priorities for the ASCENT programme, and support better outcomes for people who use care and their carers.
Why is the research needed?
Developing the research capacity of health and social care organisations can enable the delivery of research and support the use of research evidence in practice. Research to date has focused mostly on studying research capacity in healthcare organisations. Less is known, however, about developing research capacity in social care organisations.
The main aim of developing an organisation’s research capacity is to improve the quality of life of people who access care and their carers by enabling the use of reliable and relevant research evidence. Different components of research capacity development can be found in literature. Examples include improving the research skills of practitioners, publishing and sharing research findings, improving research processes (e.g., research governance), staff members supporting the development and dissemination of research, such as research champions and Researchers-in-Residence. Most of those examples have been developed and implemented in healthcare settings.
What are we doing?
The Social Care Research Capacity Development Programme (ASCENT) is an NIHR-funded infrastructure programme supporting the development of research capacity in social care organisations across the East of England region (2024-2026). As part of evaluating the contribution of the ASCENT programme, we are conducting a Delphi study to identify key areas of research capacity development in social care settings across the East of England, including both adult and children’s services.
A Delphi study includes a set of questionnaires completed by individuals who have expertise on the focus topic of a study, and it is used to reach agreement about the studied question. Participants in the Delphi study are individuals with expertise in social care practice and research across the East of England region. Defining a list of key components can guide social organisations with supporting research and using research evidence in practice.
How are we working with communities, services and organisations?
We reached out to staff members of social care organisations across the East of England region to ask their views on key components of research capacity development (including Local Authorities, third sector organisations, and care homes).
What will the impact and benefits of this research be?
Social care organisations across the region will receive a summary of key components identified to support the development of research capacity that can be used to inform future priorities.
Objectives and activities of the ASCENT programme for the next 5-year period will be informed by and tailored to priorities identified by the Delphi study.
Findings will be also shared with national forums, regional and national policy makers to increase awareness about key components of research capacity development in social care settings.
What do we have planned for knowledge mobilisation and implementation?
Findings from the Delphi study will be disseminated across the ASCENT Network. The ASCENT Network includes representatives from Local Authorities’ adult and children’s social care settings, third sectors organisations, and care homes.
The ASCENT Programme will be extended and continue supporting the development of research capacity in adult and children’s social care settings for a five-year period (2026 – 2031). Findings from the Delphi study will be used to inform the priorities of the ASCENT programme for the upcoming 5-year period.
Related papers, outputs and resources
We will produce a research paper, which will be published in an academic journal and we will produce a summary of findings to be shared with Local Authorities across the East of England region.
In addition, you can:
Who is involved?
- Lida Efstathopoulou, University of Hertfordshire
- Naoko Kishita, University of East Anglia
- Kathryn Almack, University of Hertfordshire
- Dr Anne Murphy, University of East Anglia and Norfolk County Council
- Dr Aaron Wyllie, University of Essex and Essex County Council
- Dr Nicola Gillin, Anglia Ruskin University
- Dr Louise Prothero, Anglia Ruskin University
- Pel Fordham, University of East Anglia
Get in contact
Email Lida Efstathopoulou at l.g.efstathopoulou@herts.ac.uk.
