Applying Outcomes in Community-Based Social Care Practice in England
Context: Social care outcomes (the effect of services on the quality of life of people with support needs and unpaid carers) have been proposed as a way of improving the quality and effectiveness of care. Outcomes have also been proposed as a way of reconceptualising ‘needs’ that have applications...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
LSE Press
2023-05-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Long-Term Care |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://account.journal.ilpnetwork.org/index.php/lse-j-jltc/article/view/169 |
| _version_ | 1797803623892123648 |
|---|---|
| author | Stacey Rand Grace Collins Wenjing Zhang Alisoun Milne Barbora Silarova |
| author_facet | Stacey Rand Grace Collins Wenjing Zhang Alisoun Milne Barbora Silarova |
| author_sort | Stacey Rand |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Context: Social care outcomes (the effect of services on the quality of life of people with support needs and unpaid carers) have been proposed as a way of improving the quality and effectiveness of care. Outcomes have also been proposed as a way of reconceptualising ‘needs’ that have applications in needs assessment, care planning, evaluation and care practice.
Objectives: The study aimed to provide insights into social care professionals’ experiences and views on the collection and application of outcomes data in practice and what they believe are the benefits, challenges and barriers to implementation.
Methods: Interviews were conducted with 25 social care professionals in England and analysed using a framework approach.
Findings: Participants reported perceived benefits of using outcomes data, especially to focus effort on improving the well-being of people with support needs and carers. Perceived challenges include requirements for data collection set by funders/commissioners, the volume of data collected, difficulties in separating non-service-related influences on outcomes and the format of collection. Participants felt a more flexible approach might facilitate more meaningful conversations, rather than a ‘tick-box’ exercise.
Limitations: The study sample was purposive, based on established connections. It only included professionals from London and South East and Central England.
Implications: Although outcomes are perceived as important in helping to improve people’s lives, social care professionals identified a number of challenges. Further research to understand and address these challenges is needed.
|
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T05:23:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c2aa10098b2e448380583f246903c6e9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2516-9122 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T05:23:39Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | LSE Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Long-Term Care |
| spelling | doaj.art-c2aa10098b2e448380583f246903c6e92023-06-15T09:57:22ZengLSE PressJournal of Long-Term Care2516-91222023-05-0110.31389/jltc.169Applying Outcomes in Community-Based Social Care Practice in EnglandStacey Rand0Grace Collins1Wenjing Zhang2Alisoun Milne3Barbora Silarova4Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU), University of Kent, CanterburyPersonal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU), University of Kent, CanterburyCentre for Health Services Studies (CHSS), University of Kent, CanterburySchool of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research (SSPSSR), University of Kent, CanterburyPersonal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU), University of Kent, Canterbury Context: Social care outcomes (the effect of services on the quality of life of people with support needs and unpaid carers) have been proposed as a way of improving the quality and effectiveness of care. Outcomes have also been proposed as a way of reconceptualising ‘needs’ that have applications in needs assessment, care planning, evaluation and care practice. Objectives: The study aimed to provide insights into social care professionals’ experiences and views on the collection and application of outcomes data in practice and what they believe are the benefits, challenges and barriers to implementation. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 25 social care professionals in England and analysed using a framework approach. Findings: Participants reported perceived benefits of using outcomes data, especially to focus effort on improving the well-being of people with support needs and carers. Perceived challenges include requirements for data collection set by funders/commissioners, the volume of data collected, difficulties in separating non-service-related influences on outcomes and the format of collection. Participants felt a more flexible approach might facilitate more meaningful conversations, rather than a ‘tick-box’ exercise. Limitations: The study sample was purposive, based on established connections. It only included professionals from London and South East and Central England. Implications: Although outcomes are perceived as important in helping to improve people’s lives, social care professionals identified a number of challenges. Further research to understand and address these challenges is needed. https://account.journal.ilpnetwork.org/index.php/lse-j-jltc/article/view/169social carelong-term carequality of lifeoutcomesassessmentcarers |
| spellingShingle | Stacey Rand Grace Collins Wenjing Zhang Alisoun Milne Barbora Silarova Applying Outcomes in Community-Based Social Care Practice in England Journal of Long-Term Care social care long-term care quality of life outcomes assessment carers |
| title | Applying Outcomes in Community-Based Social Care Practice in England |
| title_full | Applying Outcomes in Community-Based Social Care Practice in England |
| title_fullStr | Applying Outcomes in Community-Based Social Care Practice in England |
| title_full_unstemmed | Applying Outcomes in Community-Based Social Care Practice in England |
| title_short | Applying Outcomes in Community-Based Social Care Practice in England |
| title_sort | applying outcomes in community based social care practice in england |
| topic | social care long-term care quality of life outcomes assessment carers |
| url | https://account.journal.ilpnetwork.org/index.php/lse-j-jltc/article/view/169 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT staceyrand applyingoutcomesincommunitybasedsocialcarepracticeinengland AT gracecollins applyingoutcomesincommunitybasedsocialcarepracticeinengland AT wenjingzhang applyingoutcomesincommunitybasedsocialcarepracticeinengland AT alisounmilne applyingoutcomesincommunitybasedsocialcarepracticeinengland AT barborasilarova applyingoutcomesincommunitybasedsocialcarepracticeinengland |