Transforming health and social care through research, to improve outcomes for all
The Care and Outcomes Research Centre (COReC), previously PSSRU, is a centre of research excellence that undertakes high quality applied and policy research in health and social care. Through our research, we aim to inform and shape policy, practice and theory, nationally and internationally.
Building on 50 years of contribution, we have been awarded several multi-million-pound grants, totaling around £10 million over the last four years, to deliver impactful, evidence-based research with a particular focus on improving health and social care outcomes for all.
We are driving progress by leading on national projects funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), which include the Quality, Safety and Outcomes of Health and Social Care, Policy Research Unit (NIHR QSO PRU) and The Benefits and Costs and Domiciliary Care. We also lead on the Nuffield Foundation funded project- Connecting Pensions, Health and Care. In addition, we contribute to a number of regional, national and international collaborative projects, including the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT) programme, the NIHR Adult Social Care Policy Research Unit (ASCRU PRU), the NIHR Adult Social Care Workforce Research Partnership, the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration, Kent, Surrey, Sussex (ARC KSS), and the REAL Supply Research Unit.
We are committed to rigorous research methods and multidisciplinary approaches, with particular strengths in social care economics, outcomes measurement and application, policy research and evaluation, and meaningful public involvement and engagement. As a partner in the NIHR Research Support Service (RSS) Social Care Specialist Centre, we play an active role in shaping the development and delivery of innovative, high-quality research at a national level.
Research by staff at COReC has transformed, and continues to transform in the initiatives listed above, the lives of many. It has influenced practice (ASCOT has been used for local service evaluation and care planning, as well as in evaluations of innovative interventions and policies in social care) and been instrumental in influencing policy (the annual NIHR-funded Unit Costs manual is routinely used to assess performance and value for money in response to government priorities and policies, the Adult Social Care Relative Needs Formula (ASC RNF) has changed Local Authority practice across England, and research by COReC researchers has informed the Workforce Strategy for Adult Social Care in England).
All of this is underpinned by commitment and investment into building social care research capacity, as academic and/or practitioner researchers are supported to develop research skills, knowledge and expertise to actively contribute to research that makes a difference to people’s lives. At COReC impactful research is at the forefront; individuals are empowered to undertake and disseminate the highest quality research.
We are committed to meaningful public involvement throughout the research process, ensuring that it is conducted with or by people, not just to or about them. We engage with diverse people and organisations, regionally, nationally and internationally, as partners in our research. This includes adults with care and support needs, their families and carers, care providers, local authorities, NHS Trusts and other care organisations, practitioners, and policy makers. We are supported by a network of research advisors. Through our strong commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in research, we involve a diverse group of people, located across the UK, with experience of accessing care and/or caring, who are passionate and committed to working with researchers and partners to enhance health and social care research design, delivery and impact.