About ASCRU
The NIHR Policy Research Unit in 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. This research is relevant, high quality and addresses important issues for national and local policymakers, people who use services and carers, and other key stakeholders such as the care industry and the care regulator.
ASCRU1 received funding for five years from January 2019 until March 2024. It was refreshed in 2023 for a further five years from January 2024 until December 2028. ASCRU2's programme of work is decided with the UK Department of Health and Social Care.
Read more about ASCRU’s research themes
Adult Social Care
The term ‘adult social care’ refers to 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 or other unpaid carers. Important aims are to help people remain independent, retain their dignity and achieve a better quality of life. Another important aim is to safeguard vulnerable individuals from abuse and neglect.
ACSRU2 partners
ASCRU2 is led by the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre at the LSE in partnership with the Personal Social Services Research Unit at the University of Kent and the NIHR Health and Social Care Workforce Research Unit (HSCWRU) at King's College London.
“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 Jose-Luis Fernandez, Director.