Centre for Adult Social Care Research’s first year: building foundations for the future

Launched in 2023, from a significant £3million investment from Health and Care Research Wales, the Centre for Adult Social Care Research (CARE) has had a remarkable inaugural year, laying the groundwork for impactful research and collaboration.

Under the leadership of the newly appointed Director, Professor Paul Willis, CARE’s aim is to make a significant contribution to the knowledge base of adult social care and generate evidence to improve social care delivery in Wales and beyond.

In the past year, the team has established the foundation for the centre’s success. We review the achievements in the past year and look ahead at the plans for 2025 and beyond.

Since its development CARE has:

1. Secured funding and resources, CARE has focused on securing funding from key institutions such as National Institute for Health and Care Research, winning 6 grants to the value of just over half a million pounds.
2. Developed and contributed to 60 publications and supported research into assisting young adults with neurodiversity, assistive tech for those with dementia and autistic spaces of welfare to name a few.
3. Developed a Strategic Advisory Group, chaired by Emeritus Professor Andrew Pithouse. This group includes members from Welsh Government, local authorities, academia, and individuals with lived experience of social care. Their insights are vital for guiding CARE’s research agenda.
4. Made key connections, engaging with key stakeholders, including charity leaders, government policymakers, and local authority representatives which have helped shape CARE’s research priorities.
5. Built a core research team which includes experts in various fields such as mental health, substance misuse, ageing, and social inclusion.
6. Established a Public Involvement Board (called the ‘Lived Experience Collective’) comprising of seven individuals with lived experience of receiving care. This board will play a central role in co-designing research proposals and activities.

Reflecting on the past year, Paul Willis, Director of CARE, stated, “We are so happy with the progress we’ve made in our foundational year. Our team’s dedication and the invaluable support from our stakeholders has set a strong foundation for future research that will significantly impact adult social care.”

Looking ahead to 2025

We are establishing new thematic streams in technology, care and wellbeing; and mental health services and social care support and can’t wait to see the impact of this research on service users and their families.

As we head into our second year, our priorities include expanding practitioner involvement, strengthening partnerships, and establishing international collaborations. The launch of CARE’s website and a series of research seminars are also on the horizon, promising an exciting year ahead.”

CARE is a national collaborative effort involving Cardiff University School of Social Sciences, Cardiff Business School, and the Centre for Trials Research, with funding from Health and Care Research Wales. The support from the Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE) has been instrumental in its development.

Michael Bowdery, Head of Programmes at Health and Care Research Wales, said: “Reflecting on the first year, it’s clear to see the foundations have been laid and CARE’s commitment to advancing adult social care research has already yielded significant insights and practical applications.

We are looking forward to the continuation of this vital work and seeing how the grants won and research undertaken by CARE will begin to help shape policy and improve practice for the most vulnerable in our communities.”