About the Councillors and Care research project

There is lots of research on how adult social care might be supported more effectively, and lots of research on councillors more generally, but there has not been much specifically on how councillors might make a difference when it comes to adult social care.

Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, School for Social Care Research, the Councillors and Care research project was a two-year project that started in November 2021. The research combined a literature review, expert stakeholder interviews and case studies to create resources and a support package for councillors.

Whilst the project focused on Adult Social Care in England, there may be some useful learning opportunities from the project findings for us here in Wales. 

Social care services in England are led by elected councillors in local areas. Councillors are elected every four years and make decisions on a range of local issues.

This project focuses on the role of councillors in shaping adult social care practice – which means the support that is given to people who have (or may soon have) need for social care services. Councillors decide on the range of support options available within an area and how much money should be spent on them. This may be about helping people before they need formal state services, for example through informal assistance, preventative support and other services such as housing. For those requiring state support, councillors have a role in deciding what sorts of social care services can be offered and how quality and safety will be monitored. 

The aim of the project was to find out more about how councillors shape different aspects of adult social care practice and how they can do so as effectively as possible.

You can read a more detailed summary of the project on the 21st Century Public Servant website.

How to guides

To help Councillors think about how they might make a difference, the Councillors and Care research project has produced a set of free ‘how to’ guides. 

This guide, available as a two-minute version and as a ten-page report, offers a simple framework of four principles to help Councillors reflect on, and develop, their own personal approach. Intended as a practical resource, the guide draws on relevant research, interviews with national experts and case study research with councils in the North West of England.

The guides for executive, scrutiny and ward councillors, along with more about the Councillors and Care project are as follows:

• Adult Social Care: Making a difference as an Executive Councillor
• Adult Social Care: Making a difference as a Scrutiny Councillor 
• Supporting residents to live a good life: An Adult Social Care guide for Ward Councillors  

There is also a tonne of useful and informative blogs written on the 21st Century Public Servant website.