Strategic Advisor for Social Work and Social Care Research

1. Strategic Advisor for Social Work and Social Care Research

2. Aims • to progress a UK-wide strategy to develop a sound long-term infrastructure for social work and social care research • to promote high quality research and capacity of research community to produce it (distinctive focus on knowledge generation) • to identify the optimal role for ESRC and others in advancing the agenda • to build on existing momentum for change and concurrent initiatives, to invigorate the research field and research community of practice

3. A formidable challenge….. • bringing together diverse and dispersed stakeholder perspectives • making productive connections with other disciplines while promoting distinctive social work and social care research • developing shared recommendations for research themes, priorities, structure, mechanisms, funding • establishing complementarity with concurrent policy/research strategies and initiatives • developing coherent working arrangements for future planning • balancing enhancement of intrinsic research quality with utility for policy and practice

4. Stage 1 Objectives To consolidate current evidence base on: • research capacity and capability needs • existing resources and opportunities • career pathway points for intervention • key interdisciplinary linkages • funding models • gaps in all the above

5. Stage 2 Objectives To plan for future and agree recommendations for: • organising research themes • short, medium and long-term research priorities • optimal structures, mechanisms, and career intervention points • (co)funding models to support these

6. Methodology: Delphi technique • structured group communication process: diverse and dispersed experts address complex problem through iterative stages, towards common objectives • establish consultative panel (c30 members) representing as full as possible range of stakeholder perspectives • iterative web based exchange, culminating in consultative event to ‘test’ recommendations • advantages: logistics, time, cost, equal voice, committed network formally constituted • embedded within a four-stage work programme Sept 08-Aug 09

7. Preliminary Stage: (Sept/Oct 2008) • orientation, planning, networking and preliminary consultation (includes Steering Group & UKSCRC) • identifying sampling frame -organisations and key individuals • recruitment to consultative panel • desktop review of available evidence and gaps • identification of ‘exemplar’ research themes for consultation focus • design of Stage 1 questionnaire and setting up consultation website

8. Stage 1 Consultation & Analysis (Nov 2008 – Feb 2009) • questionnaire summarizes existing evidence base, using exemplar research themes • invites responses to confirm or modify, address gaps, highlight constituency-specific issues, suggest priorities • analysis/synthesis of feedback incorporated into discussion document for further comment • analysis/synthesis informs Interim Progress Report and design of Stage 2 questionnaire

9. Stage 2 Consultation & Analysis (Mar - Jun 2009) • questionnaire drawing on Stage 1 synthesis to elicit views on: • further research themes and priorities • optimal structures, mechanisms, career intervention points • potential (co)funding models • analysis/synthesis of feedback incorporated into discussion document for further comment • analysis/synthesis of above; consultation with Steering Group and UK SCRC; preparation of draft report and recommendations

10. Stage 3 Testing and Finalising Recommendations(Jul/Aug 2009) • two linked events: ‘special interest group’ meeting and ‘symposium’ at JSWERC conference July 2009 • to ‘test’ draft recommendations with panel members and wider reference group; consolidate shared ownership of recommendations • feedback to be incorporated into final Report and recommendations to Steering Group