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ELSCQua

An exploration of local authority strategies and initiatives to improve the quality of social care for older people in England through market shaping

 

Dates: 1 February 2017 - 31 March 2019
Funder: NIHR School for Social Care Research

Project description 

Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities (LAs) are required to actively shape the adult social care (ASC) market, with an emphasis on ensuring the availability of high quality services. Anecdotal evidence and isolated case studies aside, little is known about how LAs are approaching this role. In light of the paucity of evidence and given the evident strains on ASC resulting from financial constraints, this study seeks to provide evidence to support LAs to understand and promote social care quality for older people at a local level in England. 

Methods

The first phase of this study will map the initiatives used by LAs to promote quality and try to identify LAs with similar quality profiles by looking at patterns across a range of quality indicators. The second phase involves three LAs and will evaluate the implementation of specific quality initiatives selected in partnership with each LA. The third phase will draw out transferable lessons.

This study will provide a deeper understanding of the range of instruments used nationally to promote quality and the relationship between these initiatives, quality indicators and local circumstances. It will also provide evidence concerning how to implement initiatives to promote quality within ASC markets.

Outputs

Forthcoming

Further project information

Principal Investigator: Dr Juliette Malley
CPEC Research team: Valentina Zigante, Jose-Luis Fernandez, Alasdair Jones
Countries: England

Keywords: quality, costs, outcomes

Contact

Juliette Malley
j.n.malley@lse.ac.uk