ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø

In particular, the study asks:

1. What is the pattern of care home closures nationally, how are they undertaken in different Councils and what do Councils consider to be best practice when supporting older people at such potentially stressful times?
2. How do older people experience closures, what impact does closure have on health and quality of life, and how can any negative impacts be reduced?
3. What impact do closures have on care staff and local care markets, and how can negative impacts be reduced?
4. What are the costs and consequences of closures, and the key data required to make this estimation? Can we develop a modelling framework to drive appropriate data collection for future home closure prediction to mitigate adverse outcomes?
5. How can future closures be planned and conducted in a more evidence-based manner, so that outcomes for older people are improved and negative impacts reduced?

To answer each question the following approaches will be taken:

1. National survey of Directors of Adult Social Services, supplemented by CQC data
2. Four case study sites:

• Interviews with key stakeholders (commissioners, managers, Healthwatch and broader health partners).
• Interviews with older people, families, care staff and social work assessors during the closure process.
• Outcomes data (EQ-5D, ICECAP-O and outcomes identified in the literature on what older people value about care services) at initial assessment, 28-day review and one-year follow up.

3. Survey of care staff (ProQOL) before and after closures, supplemented with individual interviews; interviews with local authorities (commissioners, provider services, social workers) and care home providers, supplemented with documentary analysis
4. Preliminary model-based economic evaluation comparing the costs and consequences of alternative pathways of care for residents when homes close (including costs for residents, families, staff and local authorities)
5. The study will provide clear/accessible guidance to improve outcomes for older people, supported by key implementation partners, to ensure that future closures are conducted in a more evidence-based manner. This includes a good practice guide sent to every DASS/CCG/Ambulance Trust in England; an accessible guide for older people/families; and a free training video for care staff.

In addition to a detailed research report, we have worked with our Advisory Board to produce:

• A National good practice guide sent to every DASS in England 
• An accessible guide for older people/families disseminated via third sector/service user involvement partners
• Good practice guidance focused on care staff (developed in conjunction with Care England and disseminated nationally via their networks)
• A high-profile national launch
• A free 25-min  
• Peer-review articles (such as the British Journal of Social Work and Journal of Social Policy) and academic/professional conference papers (e.g. Social Policy Association, British Geriatrics Society, NHS Confederation, International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics)

Jon Glasby, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
Chief Investigator

Humera Plappert, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
Programme Manager

Shazia Zafar, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
Research Fellow

Ayesha Iqbal, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
Research Fellow

Kerry Allen, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
Workpackage 2 co-lead

Matthew Bennett, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
Expert methodological input

Tom Douglass, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
Research Fellow

Philip Kinghorn, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
Workpackage 4

Catherine Needham, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
Workpackage 3 co-lead

Tracy Roberts, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
Workpackage 4 co-lead

Magdalena Skrybant, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
PPI lead

Debs Smith
PPI advisor

Denise Tanner, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
Workpackage 2 co-lead

Beck Taylor, University of Warwick
Workpackage 1 co-lead

Annie Topping, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
Workpackage 3 co-lead

For any enquiries please contact:

Humera Plappert
Programme Manager
School of Social Policy
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
Tel: 07887592558

Email:  h.plappert@bham.ac.uk

•  
• (Transforming Society blog) 
• 
  (NIHR Blog)
• 
  (ADASS report)
• 
  (Wiley Online Library)