SARP builds on Mapping And Community Engagement (MACE). Here, we are co-producing research and development priorities for south London social care communities, including day services, together with stakeholders and responding to these priorities by developing practicable tools, such as self-auditing instruments. 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 – November 2023

Project lead: Katharine Orellana

From March 2022 to November 2023, with the support of day centres for older people and people with dementia and their broader stakeholders, we will be working on producing a Resource Pack that will aim to support day centres’ sustainability. Its content will address priority support areas identified through our day centre stakeholder survey. By day centre ‘stakeholders’, we mean people with a personal or professional interest, or potential interest, in day centres. This is a broad group which includes staff of local authorities, NHS services, providers, national bodies and community groups, and local Councillors – people working roles that involve commissioning, making referrals or making decisions, such as social workers, occupational therapists, social prescribing link workers, local Councillors.

In Phase 1 (March – end May 2022), we spoke to 19 day centres and other day centre stakeholders (including professionals) in the south London boroughs of Kingston-upon-Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham or Merton, with the aim of identifying areas where there are gaps in resources, building on the survey.

In Phase 2 (June 2022 – Sept 2023), resources will be developed and barriers, facilitators and strategies concerning implementation of the resources will be identified with a Reference Group of stakeholders, predominantly from the area covered by ARC South London (the London Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston-upon-Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Richmond, Southwark, Sutton, Wandsworth) but also from specialist and professional social care related organisations and bodies, including those supporting or researching service provision for specific groups of people and other experts outside south London.

In Phase 3 (Oct 2023- end March 2024), we will test and modify the resource pack and accompanying guidance with south London day centre stakeholders, and launch a final resource pack and guidance to the wider south London social care community.

Please see the flyer for more information or 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.