Professor Ian Kessler
Professor of Public Policy and Management
Research interests
- Public Services Management & Organisation
Biography
Ian Kessler is Professor of Public Policy and Management at King's Business School. He joined King’s College London in September 2012, after almost twenty-five years at the University of Oxford.
He has been involved in various research projects, funded by such bodies as the ESRC, the National Institute of Health Research and the European Union. These projects have explored employee voice, dimensions of pay and reward, and different aspects of employment relations in the British public services.
Over the last decade he has been researching nurse support roles in a variety of health care settings, and the general re-structuring of the nursing workforce. He has co-authored two books: one on healthcare support roles, the other on employment relations in the public sector under New Labour.
In 2005, he was a commissioner on the Local Government Pay Commission. In 2014 he acted as special adviser to the House of Commons Local Government and Communities Select Committee inquiry of senior management pay. In 2018 he was a member of the Health Education England scrutiny committee on the nursing associate role.
He has also advised the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Midwives, the Staff Side of the NHS Staff Council, the Police Federation, the Audit Commission and the National Audit Office. He is Interim Principal Investigator of the core Policy Research Programme work of the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce within the Policy Institute at King's.
Ian's Research Excellence Framework 2021 impact case study was called Improving Care Quality and the Development of the Healthcare Support Worker Role in NHS England. Read the impact feature on this case study here.
Currently accepting new PhD students.
Research
Examining the introduction of the Nursing Associate role in health and social care
Research into the introduction of the Nursing Associate role and the extent to which the role has achieved policy aims.
Project status: Completed
The other keyworkers in care homes: Implications of including domestic staff in social care workforce strategies and practices relating to COVID-19 recovery
Housekeeping staff in care homes – cleaners, those working in kitchens, laundries, maintenance – are often forgotten but are the backbone of many care homes.
Project status: Completed
Mitigating early attrition amongst Healthcare Support Workers
Examining Healthcare Support Worker recruitment, retention and career development.
Project status: Completed
Evaluation of the International Recruitment Fund for adult social care
The fund aims to increase the number of international recruits entering adult social care, improving ethical international recruitment & employment practice.
Project status: Ongoing
The demand for, and supply of, therapists for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities – A scoping study
Exploring workforce capacity to deliver therapies to children and young people with SEND.
Project status: Completed
Evaluating the Implementation of Apprenticeships in Health and Social Care
Examining the similarities and differences between the health and social care sectors in how they are carrying out the apprenticeship agenda.
Project status: Ongoing
Widening Participation in the Healthcare Workforce
Examining the use and development of the Widening Participation programme in NHS England.
Project status: Ongoing
Centre for Sustainable Business
Business, society and environment in the pursuit of a sustainable future
News
Unit Annual Report 2023
A year of transitions at the Unit
Empowering sustainability research: Meet the winners of the 2024 CSB Seed Fund
The Centre for Sustainable Business (CSB) is delighted to announce the winners of its inaugural Seed Fund, designed to nurture early-stage research.
At HSR UK Conference 2024
Ian Kessler, Caroline Norrie, Jess Harris and Annette Boaz were in Oxford
Therapists for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Report by Ian Kessler and Annette Boaz
International nurse recruitment and the use of Memoranda of Understanding
Ian Kessler and colleagues examined the Kenya and Nepal pilots
The NIHR Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce Programme of Work
The Policy Research Unit announces seven new studies commencing in 2024
Understanding the impact of changes to the UK Health and Care Visa System on the adult social care workforce in England
New report identifies important areas of learning for practice and policy on international recruitment
Introduction of the Nursing Associate Role in Adult Social Care
What are the difficulties? How have providers sought to overcome them?
NHS employment pilot shows promise for helping homeless people
King’s Business School’s Professor Ian Kessler has put forward expert recommendations for rolling out an NHS pilot supporting the recruitment of people with...
Developing the Workforce Research Roadmap at the Health and Care Workforce Forum
Connecting research evidence and policy
Events
Health and social care support worker network
Presentations from national, regional, and local policymakers and practitioners
Please note: this event has passed.
Preparing for work: Young people with learning disabilities
Young people with disabilities face formidable challenges in finding paid jobs, reflected in the fact that well under ten percent are in employment.
Please note: this event has passed.
Supported employment for young people with disabilities: Lessons from the NHS as an employer
This webinar will provide insights into how to design and implement supported employment programmes for people with learning disabilities.
Please note: this event has passed.
Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum
Survivors of stroke. Apprenticeships.
Please note: this event has passed.
Spotlight
Building the first comprehensive picture of NHS England's Healthcare Support Workers
Study has laid the foundation for better training for staff who are key to patient comfort and care
Research
Examining the introduction of the Nursing Associate role in health and social care
Research into the introduction of the Nursing Associate role and the extent to which the role has achieved policy aims.
Project status: Completed
The other keyworkers in care homes: Implications of including domestic staff in social care workforce strategies and practices relating to COVID-19 recovery
Housekeeping staff in care homes – cleaners, those working in kitchens, laundries, maintenance – are often forgotten but are the backbone of many care homes.
Project status: Completed
Mitigating early attrition amongst Healthcare Support Workers
Examining Healthcare Support Worker recruitment, retention and career development.
Project status: Completed
Evaluation of the International Recruitment Fund for adult social care
The fund aims to increase the number of international recruits entering adult social care, improving ethical international recruitment & employment practice.
Project status: Ongoing
The demand for, and supply of, therapists for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities – A scoping study
Exploring workforce capacity to deliver therapies to children and young people with SEND.
Project status: Completed
Evaluating the Implementation of Apprenticeships in Health and Social Care
Examining the similarities and differences between the health and social care sectors in how they are carrying out the apprenticeship agenda.
Project status: Ongoing
Widening Participation in the Healthcare Workforce
Examining the use and development of the Widening Participation programme in NHS England.
Project status: Ongoing
Centre for Sustainable Business
Business, society and environment in the pursuit of a sustainable future
News
Unit Annual Report 2023
A year of transitions at the Unit
Empowering sustainability research: Meet the winners of the 2024 CSB Seed Fund
The Centre for Sustainable Business (CSB) is delighted to announce the winners of its inaugural Seed Fund, designed to nurture early-stage research.
At HSR UK Conference 2024
Ian Kessler, Caroline Norrie, Jess Harris and Annette Boaz were in Oxford
Therapists for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Report by Ian Kessler and Annette Boaz
International nurse recruitment and the use of Memoranda of Understanding
Ian Kessler and colleagues examined the Kenya and Nepal pilots
The NIHR Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce Programme of Work
The Policy Research Unit announces seven new studies commencing in 2024
Understanding the impact of changes to the UK Health and Care Visa System on the adult social care workforce in England
New report identifies important areas of learning for practice and policy on international recruitment
Introduction of the Nursing Associate Role in Adult Social Care
What are the difficulties? How have providers sought to overcome them?
NHS employment pilot shows promise for helping homeless people
King’s Business School’s Professor Ian Kessler has put forward expert recommendations for rolling out an NHS pilot supporting the recruitment of people with...
Developing the Workforce Research Roadmap at the Health and Care Workforce Forum
Connecting research evidence and policy
Events
Health and social care support worker network
Presentations from national, regional, and local policymakers and practitioners
Please note: this event has passed.
Preparing for work: Young people with learning disabilities
Young people with disabilities face formidable challenges in finding paid jobs, reflected in the fact that well under ten percent are in employment.
Please note: this event has passed.
Supported employment for young people with disabilities: Lessons from the NHS as an employer
This webinar will provide insights into how to design and implement supported employment programmes for people with learning disabilities.
Please note: this event has passed.
Margaret Butterworth Care Home Forum
Survivors of stroke. Apprenticeships.
Please note: this event has passed.
Spotlight
Building the first comprehensive picture of NHS England's Healthcare Support Workers
Study has laid the foundation for better training for staff who are key to patient comfort and care