Exploring the impact and pathways to impact of third sector brokerage services: an EAC case study

Making good decisions in later life about how and where to live, and about support and care that may be needed, is not easy or straightforward. Coming to terms with increasing vulnerability, the prospect of perhaps having to move home, sifting well-meaning advice offered by others and the affordability of preferred solutions are some of the many more factors come into play. There is often an inclination to put off difficult decisions until later (Clough, Leamy & Bright, 2003; Heywood et al., 2007).

The Elderly Accommodation Counsel (EAC), a national charity, provides support in making these decisions, offering a national information and advice service, with a significant number of local housing options advice and casework services. As a lead agency in the FirstStop Advice network, EAC is keen to explore a number of areas. These include the design, delivery, cost effectiveness and impact of current lower cost interventions, evidencing gains to the public purse of these interventions and/or shaping and marketing a new service package that older people and their families would willingly pay for.

The successful candidate will work closely with EAC and supervisors from Bournemouth University to develop and deliver a project that will enable EAC to address these areas.

Your supervisors will be:
Dr Sarah Hean, Dr Ann Hemingway and Dr Jonathan Parker from the School of Health and Social Care. You will also be working in close association with the leadership of the EAC and the Later Life Research (LLR) partnership.

Your interests:
A background in health economics and/or the social and financial impact of services within the third sector would be an advantage.