Understanding workforce training and qualification-level effects on workforce and social care outcomes: Scoping study
Background
The Adult Social Care (ASC) workforce is larger in headcount terms than the NHS, construction, transport, or the food and drink service industries. Almost all (98%) of ASC employers are SMEs; 2% are large employers (250+ employees) yet employ almost half (47%) of the ASC workforce. There were 1.59 million people working in ASC in 2023/24, equivalent to 5% of all adults in employment, employed predominantly by private sector providers. 76% are direct care workers and senior care workers, 7% are managerial staff and 5% are regulated professionals.
Aims and objectives
This research helps us to evaluate the impact of specific types of training courses and qualifications in the ASC sector and to assess the most effective training and qualifications for improving ASC outcomes and best supporting the government’s Growth and Health missions. By isolating data on training and qualifications within existing datasets such as the Adult Social Care Workforce Dataset (ASC-WDS), we can better understand their individual effects on workforce outcomes, particularly those related to productivity, currently best measured by pay, retention and quality of care.
Methods
• A desk based rapid review of sources of data to inform the analytical, theoretical and practical feasibility of using the data to assess the impact of specific training interventions
• Targeted expert interviews (N= 4-6 e.g. Skills for Care, service and education providers, regulators) to provide context and explore what is happening on the ground
• An expert meeting (a roundtable/workshop) to discuss the research questions – this would involve researchers who have developed workforce datasets, workforce organisations and training providers and organisations who have supported and used adult social care workforce data and analysts from within DHSC who have an interest in using adult social care workforce date
• Correspond with experts to sense check the draft report on the scoping phase of the study
• Meeting with DHSC to work through the implications of the report for the proposed Phase 2 research project
Funding
NIHR Policy Research Programme: NIHR206121(12)
Policy relevance and dissemination
Addressing the Phase 1 research questions will feed into the development of Phase 2 and the overall project will help to identify which courses funded through existing mechanisms are most and least effective in supporting government priorities. These priorities include boosting productivity and economic growth in the adult social care (ASC) sector through an enhanced skills offer for UK workers, and strengthening the skills base needed to build a community-based health and care system. This research could help us prioritise the most cost-effective training courses.
