Setting And Responding to Priorities (SARP)
Setting And Responding to Priorities (SARP) (2021-2024) is a broad research programme involving co-producing research and development priorities for local social care communities and responding to those priorities and working with London Councils. SARP builds on the MACE (Mapping and Community Engagement) study (2019-2021), which mapped strengths and gaps in provision and demand for day services in South London and which built strong networks for the subsequent research programme. SARP and MACE are both part of NIHR ARC South London: Social Care Theme at the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce.
Resource Pack for day centre stakeholders
March 2022 – May 2024
Project lead: Katharine Orellana
With day centres for older people and people with dementia and their broader stakeholders, we have co-produced an online Day Centre Resources Hub that aims to help support day centre sustainability by improving knowledge about them, supporting their operation, and encouraging joint working.
The Hub provides useful information, practical tips, guides, case study examples and templates that can be downloaded and used to help inform work. Topics covered include research, outcomes and impact, marketing, recruitment and local examples. It is not a guide on how to set up and run a day centre nor does it provide contact information about individual day centres.
Resources are primarily for people working in roles that have, or could have, connections with day centres for older people and older people with dementia. This includes day centres themselves and their external stakeholders, for example people whose roles involve funding, planning, evaluating, referring or signposting to day centres, people who have local relationships with them, or who might consider engaging with them in other ways.
The Hub was developed after our survey (see below) identified a need for a body of supportive resources. found that day centres felt unsupported and underprepared for current and future environments, that evidence and information about day centres would be welcomed by day centre providers, professional decision-makers and community groups, and that there is an appetite for joint working.
We co-produced the Hub by identifying resource needs by speaking to 19 people - from day centres and professional stakeholders in a variety of roles. Researchers and a group of 12 day centre providers, other professionals and people interested in day centres then prioritised, identified, assembled, and developed resources that fill some of the gaps they highlighted. These resources were then tested in three day centres, by five people working in social care, two people working in health and a social care researcher. Their feedback was used to refine these resources.
Day Centre Resources Hub flyer for circulation.
We shared reflections on co-designing resources for day centres and their stakeholder at the British Society of Gerontology Annual Conference 2023.
For more information, contact: Katharine.Orellana@kcl.ac.uk
Adult and older people’s day centres: priorities for research, development, and action
Project lead: Katharine Orellana
From May to July 2021, we conducted a survey of day centre stakeholders, that is, adults with current or previous links with or expertise in day centres in any capacity (including 'experts by experience' e.g. of attending one or caring for someone who attends/ed one, volunteering at one) or who work on the topic of day centres.
The survey aimed to gather views about priorities for action, development and research with respect to adult day centres. Findings will support and steer our ARC South London social care work.
The findings have been published.
Please contact Katharine.Orellana@kcl.ac.uk if you have unanswered questions.
London Councils priority work
Home Care in London
At the request of London ADASS (Association of Directors of Adult Social Services) this short project undertook a scoping review of the evidence about the health of home care workers. This was designed as a submission to the Department of Health and Social Care's consultation on a Women's Health Strategy. The work was informed by consultation with London ADASS home care providers' network building on the ARC social care theme's links with London social care providers. Our report is available.
Safeguarding in London
Also through the ARC social care theme's links with London ADASS was a review of Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SARs) that covered mental health social care, including analysis of Reports of Preventable Deaths that are issued by Coroners (focusing on those related to mental health social care provision). This review was in direct response to London ADASS' request for the evidence to be synthesised. This review is published. It was informed by London ADASS safeguarding experts and the views of people with experience of safeguarding services themselves. Findings from this study have been presented to London safeguarding practitioners in local authorities and NHS partners. The report calls upon those working on the new mental health legislation to make sure that safeguarding is included in the changes proposed.
Working with Proud to Care London
Part of the work of the ARC social care theme has been continued engagement with the Proud to Care campaign in London LINK which focuses on recruitment to the social care sector and building up opportunities for career pathways in the sector. Weekly meetings with London ADASS and social care providers are ensuring that the ARC has regular input into discussions and planning. Our report on the links between Further Education colleges in south London and their role as providers of social care training is available.
