The transition of older people within care settings: optimising the system

The project will examine whether and how the transition of older people between different care settings (e.g. private households, supported housing, care homes and hospital) in the locality could be improved. Potential areas of interest include:

• How different stakeholders (e.g. professionals, older people, carers) experience these transitions;
• Whether the needs of certain older people could be more appropriately and efficiently met by other services and, if so, which older people require what alternative services at what cost;
• The factors that lead to potentially avoidable transfers to care homes from hospital; and
• The extent to which different client, carer, decision-maker and system characteristics influence judgements about appropriate care home placement.

The findings have the potential to inform the improvement of service utilisation at a system, operational and individual level, providing benefits to local social care providers and NHS partners in cost and efficiency.

The research questions and design will be co-produced by the researchers, PhD student and participating organisations utilising a mixed methods approach to include a significant qualitative component and analytical predictive modelling

Entry Requirements
Applicants are expected to hold (or about to obtain) a minimum upper second class undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant social science discipline (for example, sociology, psychology, social policy). A Masters degree in a relevant subject and/or experience in a social care or social work or professions allied to medicine discipline

For information on how to apply for this project, please visit the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Doctoral Academy website (https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/apply/). Informal enquiries may be made directly to the primary supervisor. You MUST also submit an online application form - choose PhD Social Work.