RESEARCH and DEVELOPMENT

A strong background in social care research and planning means that we are able to tackle a wide range of development issues. Examples include:

Project: Planning4care strategic needs assessment tool
Partners: Care Equation, Oxford Consultants for Social Inclusion, City of Brighton & Hove (pilot)
Dates: 2007

The aim of this development project was to build a web-based strategic needs assessment tool to support commissioning of care for older people. The development of the tool built on the PSSRU/Wanless national projection methodology in adopting a set of clearly defined levels of need for social care support, and then estimating the current and projected numbers of the total over-65 population expected to fall into each of those groups. An innovation developed by the project team is the use of local needs-related risk factors to derive estimates and projections that reflect the profiles of individual localities as closely as possible. The estimates were then linked to "typical" types of service packages and costs, enabling future costs and service requirements to be projected.

The pilot work highlighted the importance of being able to examine different care scenarios. Two standard scenarios were included in the tool, the first projecting continuation of current patterns of care and the second an outcome based scenario. Facilities to explore locally defined service patterns and to project potential consequences of changes to informal care and unit costs were also included.

Plannning4care was launched in October 2007 and is set up to provide analysis for all local authorities in England up to 2027. The tool provides essential analysis for the social care element of Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for older people. For more information visit www.planning4care.com

Pilot feedback:

It's going to give us a more sophisticated model for planning demand, and the need for different types of services, in the long term – as well as getting a sense of the costs of those services.



Project: Needs assessment for drugs services in rural East Sussex
Client: East Sussex Drug and Alcohol Action Team
Dates: 2005–06

This study was commissioned by East Sussex DAAT to identify the need for the development of adult drugs services outside of Eastbourne and Hastings. At present most of the adult drugs services in East Sussex are located within these two urban coastal boroughs. The remaining three districts comprise largely rural areas, interspersed with smaller towns and villages. The fact that both of the main towns are at the very south of the County means that those living inland or in the north have a long distance to travel to access services.

The study involved consultations with service providers, focus groups with existing service users living in the rural areas – who were also encouraged to "bring a friend" not currently in contact with services – and discussion with other community workers, as well as secondary analysis of a range of service, police and probation data. The study also trawled the experience of other 'rural' DAATs across the UK. The report provided a set of recommendations for the sorts of service developments to be considered and the locations where they appeared most to be needed.

Client feedback:

Another extremely well executed project carried out by Care Equation on behalf of the East Sussex DAAT. The team worked within tight deadlines and ensured that the DAAT was fully updated as to the project progress. Care Equation delivered a completed project that was, again, well received by all.

Project: Research into experiences of Black and Ethnic Minority communities in using local health services
Client: Adur, Arun and Worthing Primary Care Trust
Dates: 2005-06

We were commissioned by Adur, Arun and Worthing Primary Care Trust to conduct a series of focus groups with representatives of local ethnic minority communities, to explore their experiences of using local health services and their perceptions of health related needs. This entailed identifying the main ethnic minority groups from Census and other subsequent material and consultation with local agencies, identifying and engaging with key representatives of the communities in question, working out with them the most effective and appropriate way of engaging the participation of others in the community, and getting publicity materials translated into the appropriate languages.

A total of six focus groups took place (with interpreter facilities as required) covering most of the main local ethnic minority groups. The emerging messages from the different groups shared a broadly common set of themes and implications for service delivery; local health services per se were generally perceived as good, but communities experienced a range of problems in connection with language and communication, cultural sensitivity and awareness, and provision of targeted information in their own languages.

Client feedback:

I was very pleased at the level of commitment and enthusiasm Care Equation gave to this project. They seemed genuinely interested in the subject matter and I firmly believe this led to the high quality outcome achieved. Care Equation will be the first organisation we contact to discuss future similar projects.

See also User Involvement

Project: Crack cocaine needs analysis in Eastbourne and Hastings
Client: East Sussex Drug and Alcohol Action Team
Date: 2005

Undertaken jointly with The Foundry, Leeds

The purpose of this research was to inform the DAAT about the developments needed in adult drugs treatment services, to serve the needs of crack cocaine users in the Eastbourne and Hastings areas. It involved face-to-face interviews with crack users and service providers, focus groups with community workers and with a group of previous crack users in Lewes prison, and secondary analysis of drugs service and police data. The individual interviews with crack users were undertaken by members of The Foundry, themselves a group of ex crack users – who were therefore able to identify, and obtain the confidence of, people not actively in touch with services as well as those who were. The particular contribution of The Foundry combined powerfully with Care Equation's specialist knowledge and research expertise to produce a wide-ranging and well evidenced set of recommendations for service development.

Client feedback:

The team worked incredibly hard to follow the project outline and delivered results which exceeded our expectations. They liaised with the DAAT, providing regular updates and produced a well researched, well written and very well presented research project. The resulting study was delivered within the agreed timescale and provided the DAAT with a well balanced understanding of local trends of crack use and the needs of the individuals misusing crack. The assessment will enable us to determine which treatment services are appropriate and the way in which they should be delivered. We would be certain to re-commission Care Equation and The Foundry to complete future project work on our behalf.

See also User Involvement

Project: Research review on user involvement in promoting change and enhancing the quality of social care services for older people
Client: Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
Date: 2003

This was one of a series of four reviews commissioned by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), to explore what is currently known about the ways in which, and extent to which, different groups of service users have been able to influence and shape social care services.

The older people's review undertaken by Care Equation considered a wide range of written material, including research and evaluation, inspections, and descriptive accounts of practice; it reflected the perspectives of those with in-depth knowledge of user involvement – from study and research, from professional experience, or from experience as service users. It also drew on direct feedback from service users through two advisory groups, the contributions of whom formed an essential dimension of this work.

The four component reviews are now published as a summary report by SCIE under the title Has Service User Participation made a Difference to Social Care Services?

Client feedback:

Assessors felt that the review was a good quality piece of work, containing valuable information that will make a significant contribution to the debate on the nature of knowledge in social care.

See also User Involvement

Project: Research into Children Looked After by London Boroughs and placed in Kent
Client: Greater London Association of Directors of Social Services (GLADSS)
Date: 2003

Undertaken in collaboration with National Children's Bureau

In response to concerns raised about the number of looked after children placed in Kent by London Boroughs, we worked with The National Children's Bureau (NCB) to undertake an audit of the numbers and circumstances of these children. The audit focused on characteristics, placement circumstances and specific needs of the children looked after, and the benefits and disadvantages of these placements as perceived by the placing authorities.

This involved the development of a detailed audit form which was sent out to all London Boroughs to be completed in respect of every looked after child placed in Kent as at 1 September 2002 – estimated at between 900 and 1000 children, or between 8 and 9 percent of all children looked after by London boroughs. The results of the audit allowed a very helpful profile to be constructed of the age and gender characteristics of this group of children and the types of placement undertaken, their care history and specific needs, the pattern of care plan review and access to support services, and contact with family members. While comments from social workers suggested several areas for improvement in these arrangements, a range of very positive comments showed that it is possible for such placements to work well if the right support is in place.

Project: Research into prevalence and prevention of drugs use in rural areas
Client: Chichester and Horsham Community Safety Partnership
Date: 2003

Undertaken in partnership with Health and Social Policy Research Centre (HSPRC), University of Brighton

This project was commissioned by the Chichester and Horsham Community Safety Partnership to provide an insight into the availability and extent of drugs use in the rural areas of Chichester and Horsham, and to ascertain how rural communities can be effectively reached with drugs interventions. The research explored community perceptions of the extent and nature of drugs use, as well as a range of methods for estimating actual prevalence, and included discussing with young adults participating in drugs treatment how their drug use might have been prevented. The report produced a range of recommendations for the development of support services and prevention initiatives in the rural areas, several of which were put immediately and effectively into practice.

Client feedback:

It has been a real pleasure working with Care Equation on this research. They have a real understanding of both the challenges and the delights of working in the public sector. We would highly recommend Care Equation and would commission their services for future research without hesitation.

See also User Involvement

Project: Strategic review of Barnardo's services for Looked After Children
Client: Barnardo's
Dates: 2000

Undertaken in collaboration with National Children's Bureau

This review was undertaken to help Barnardo's develop their strategic direction for looked after children's services. The approach of the review was to identify and examine important influencing factors in the external environment, such as national policies and trends and local authority developments, and to link that to an understanding of the relationship between needs, activity, outcomes and costs within Barnardo's internal context.

The review process included the following stages: mapping need; exploring regional perspectives; strengths and weaknesses of individual projects; and user views. The report highlighted the continued demand for the type of services Barnardo's provide for looked after children but also the need for a clearer vision and model for these services in the future.