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Record no:	1 of 1
Title:	Choice and independence across the life course
Abstract:	Social Policy Research Unit's (SPRU's) new Department of Health (DH)-funded research programme will examine the exercise of choice by disabled children, young people, adults and older people; the information and other support they need to do so; and the consequences of making choices for independence and well-being. Both the concept and the practice of choice may be highly problematic for many people. For example, there may be very few opportunities for choice over scarce specialist services, while changing needs may require repeated choices about services and support arrangements.
Aims & Objectives:	The programme will address the following questions: a) What kinds of choices over social care and related services are important to disabled and chronically ill young people, adults and older people and their families or carers, and why; how do these vary between different groups; and how do they relate to concepts of independence?; b) What opportunities do disabled and chronically ill young people, adults and older people and their families or carers have to make choices that are important to them; what information and other support is needed to facilitate choice?; c) What roles do carers play in supporting choice and what are the implications for their own choices?; d) What are the consequences of choice on the part of disabled and chronically ill young people, adults and older people and their families or carers?; e) How far are service providers able to respond to increased choice?
Design:	Single/multi case study
Methods:	Mixed qualitative and quantitative
Methods, description:	The Programme will include a qualitative, longitudinal panel study which will examine the realities of choice in the context of changing circumstances, whether arising from changes in illness or disability or from other social transitions. It will enable us to examine the consequences of past choices, including the responses of service providers, and the impact on perceived independence. It will include people likely to experience considerable change in their support needs. Respondents will be interviewed at regular intervals over two to three years. Complementary interviews may be carried out with key professionals and/or family members who have been heavily involved in specific recent choices. There will also be a couple of scoping studies which will critically appraise existing research to identify gaps in evidence; contribute to theoretical debate about choice and develop theoretical and conceptual frameworks relating to choices about social care and related services; the preconditions for choice and the consequences (benefits and costs) of choice. Further individual projects within the programme will examine issues such as: a) Providers' responses to choice barriers and opportunities; b) Out-of-area placements and the transition to adult services; c) Choice and change exploration of large-scale data sets.The aim of this work is to complement the panel study by providing, where possible, larger scale perspectives on the same questions.
Contact:	Click here to contact lead organisation;
Main Funding Body:	Department of Health Policy Research Programme
Status:	current
Date:	30/01/2006
User involvement:	Throughout
Student research:	no
Format:	research register;
Topics:	adults; carers; children; chronic illness; community care; disabled people; home care; independence; informal care; older people; physical disabilities; service users; social care provision; supported living; user views; young people;
Content Type:	research;
Record ID:	www.scie-socialcareonline.org.uk/profile.asp?guid=1c20a244-3a81-409e-b930-0200c59ec38d
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