In a significant development for adult social care research, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has announced up to £31 million in funding over the next five years.
This investment will support the fourth phase of the NIHR School for Social Care Research (SSCR), reinforcing its commitment to advancing social care practices across England.
The NIHR SSCR is renowned for its internationally leading research and capacity-building initiatives aimed at improving social care practices. The new funding will further the School’s core vision of providing robust evidence on effective social care practices and their nationwide application. This initiative is set to benefit service users, carers, and the workforce by supporting, mobilising, and delivering impactful research.
Chief Executive of the NIHR, Professor Lucy Chappell, commented:
“The School for Social Care Research has been key in driving forwards social care research within the NIHR since it was established 15 years ago. In this time, the School has delivered a breadth of research which has informed national policy and practice, developed the careers of social care researchers and offered opportunities for everyone wanting to get involved in social care research. This next phase of the School will continue to build on this progress and strengthen the evidence base for adult social care, for the benefit of people who draw on care and support, carers and the workforce.”
Professor Yvonne Birks from the University of York has been appointed as the new Director of the SSCR, leading the School into its fourth phase. The School’s membership has been refreshed through an open competition, bringing together six leading academic centres known for their excellence in social care research:
- University of York (Lead University)
- University of Birmingham
- University of Bristol
- Collaboration between the Universities of Leeds and Leeds Beckett
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- University of Sheffield
Professor Birks spoke about her appointment, saying:
“I am honoured and delighted to have the opportunity to lead NIHR SSCR through the next five years. In my 10 years of involvement to date I have been privileged to see the huge strides in visibility and quality in relation to social care research. As a discipline, social care research has come such a distance with unprecedented investment from NIHR and we no longer have to justify the need for investment. Our efforts need to address building capacity for our community of excellent early career researchers and demonstrate real impact. That is our focus.”
The £31 million investment comprises £25 million dedicated to research and up to £6 million aimed at building social care research capacity. This funding will support the School from 2024 to 2029, marking the fourth phase of the NIHR SSCR. The School will continue to complement existing NIHR funding streams for social care research, ensuring a comprehensive approach to advancing the field.
This substantial investment underscores the importance of social care research in improving practices and outcomes for the public, including service users, carers, and the workforce. The NIHR SSCR’s continued efforts will play a crucial role in shaping the future of adult social care in England.
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