The NIHR Policy Research Unit: Adult Social Care (ASCRU) carries out research in England to provide national and local policymakers with the evidence and information they need to make decisions about adult social care. Our research is relevant, high quality and addresses important issues for national and local policymakers, people who use services and carers, and other key stakeholders, including care providers and regulators.
ASCRU is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and is one of 20 NIHR Policy Research Units across England commissioned through the NIHR Policy Research Programme. NIHR Policy Research Units bring together experts from leading research institutions to undertake policy-focused research that supports evidence-informed decision-making across health and social care.
Following its initial five-year phase from January 2019 to March 2024 (with a funding of £5.66 million), ASCRU was renewed in 2023 for a further 5 years (funding of £6.3 million). ASCRU’s programme of work is developed in collaboration with the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
Read more about ASCRU’s research themes →
The term ‘adult social care’ refers to the provision of personal and practical care and support that people may need because of their age, illness, cognition, disability or other circumstances. It also includes support for family members and other unpaid carers.
Important aims of adult social care are to help people remain independent, retain their dignity and achieve a better quality of life. Another important aim is to safeguard people at risk of abuse and neglect.
ASCRU is led by the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre at the London School of Economics and Political Science, in partnership with the Care and Outcomes Research Centre at the University of Kent.
ASCRU’s collaborative effort also draws on researchers from King’s College London.
CPEC is an international research centre working mainly in the areas of long-term care, also known as social care, mental health, developmental disabilities and other health-related issues. Since 2009, CPEC has been awarded more than 120 research grants, totalling £50 million, and has contributed to a number of important policy and practice developments.
The Care and Outcomes Research Centre, previously known as the Personal Social Services Research Unit, is a centre of research excellence undertaking high-quality applied and policy research in health and social care. Its research aims to inform and shape policy, practice and theory nationally and internationally.
Building on 50 years of contribution to the field, COReC has been awarded several multimillion-pound grants, totalling approximately £10 million over the past four years, to deliver impactful, evidence-based research with a particular focus on improving health and social care outcomes for all.
“The NIHR Policy Research Unit in Adult Social Care will contribute high-quality research evidence that supports policy developments in the long-term care area. Producing this evidence is particularly critical in light of the ever-increasing pressure for innovative models of care which allocate public support in a fair, effective and cost-effective way.”
Dr José-Luis Fernández, Director
