Exploring the effects of the economic slowdown on adult social care

SPRU research team

• Caroline Glendinning
  
  

External collaborators

• Ruth Chamberlain, Acton Shapiro
• Jacqueline Curtis, Acton Shapiro
• Diana Sanderson, Acton Shapiro
• Liz Newbronner, Acton Shapiro

Project summary

Aims

This small scale study complements other research undertaken by LGA/ADASS.  It aims to explore the effects - positive and negative, direct and indirect - of the economic downturn on social care and support services and the consequent impacts on service users.

The study is being undertaken in four local authority areas, selected to reflect a range of demographic and socio-economic characteristics. It involves:

• semi-structured interviews with key staff in each local authority
• semi-structured interviews with a range of provider organisations in each local authority
• interviews with national bodies representing service users, in order to place the local findings within a wider context
• a review of recent grey literature and other relevant reports.

Policy and practice aims

The study will contribute to current knowledge about the impact of the economic downturn on the commissioners, providers and users of local authority-funded adult social care and will contribute to future debates about levels of funding for this sector.