Search results for ‘Author:"baxter kate"’ Sort:
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Self-funders and social care: findings from a scoping review
- Author:
- BAXTER Kate
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 31(3), 2016, pp.179-193.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
This paper draws on a scoping review of the evidence base about adults in England who purchase social care services and support using their own money. It presents a selection of the review’s findings relevant to self-funders and key aspects of the Care Act 2014. The review covers the years 2000 to 2015. Searches of electronic databases were complemented by a focused search of the websites of key organisations. After applying inclusion/exclusion criteria, and removing duplicates, details were extracted from 76 references. The majority focused on residential care (33), domiciliary care (12), or both (23). Studies used a range of research methods. The overall numbers and percentages of self-funders of home care and care home places have increased. There are variations across regions but limited evidence about demographic or socio-economic characteristics of self-funders. Self-funders feel they lack advice from local authorities; local authorities have limited knowledge of self-funders in their areas. People struggle to understand fees and the financial implications of long-term care. Providers are beginning to realise the potential of the self-funding market but full use is not yet being made of e-marketplaces. Key gaps in knowledge remain at a time when the number and importance of self-funders is increasing. (Publisher abstract)
Role of voluntary groups in disability service provision
- Author:
- BAXTER Kate
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 27.10.11, 2011, pp.34-35.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
A research study by the Institute of Public Care, 'Gain without Pain', is reviewed. The study shows how the voluntary sector can offer innovative ways of meeting three challenges facing social care: increasing demand; decreasing funds; and changing expectations. It uses ten case studies, each one showing a different way of offering innovative delivery of services, to promote the benefits of commissioning the voluntary sector to provide services. Practice implications for commissioners, support planners and brokers, and voluntary organisations are provided.
Ready steady stop
- Author:
- BAXTER Kate
- Journal article citation:
- Health Service Journal, 14.3.02, 2002, pp.28-29.
- Publisher:
- Emap Healthcare
Many primary care organisations still rely on their health authorities to commission care. Argues what will happen in 2004 when they are in control of three-quarter of the NHS budget?
A review of methods of evaluation and outcome measurement of a complex intervention in social care: the case of assistance dogs
- Authors:
- BAXTER Kate, BERESFORD Bryony
- Publisher:
- University of York. Social Policy Research Unit
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 30
- Place of publication:
- York
The aim of this project was to conduct a small scale review of published quantitative and qualitative evaluations of assistance dogs to inform an application to SSCR for funding for an evaluation of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. An academic paper focussing on design and methods issues associated with evaluating complex and non-traditional interventions in social care, using evaluations of assistance dogs as an example, was also proposed as an additional output. Fifty-four studies were eligible for inclusion. The majority of quantitative studies comprised cross-sectional designs but included some controlled studies (including one RCT) and some longitudinal. In addition, one study used quantitative observations; one modelled costs; one described developing an assessment tool and another involved a concept mapping exercise. Qualitative methods comprised interviews and observations; one study used a combination of open and closed interview questions and then converted open ended responses into Likert-type scales. The review concludes that there is a wide range of papers reporting evaluations of assistance dogs. However, there are few controlled trials, few large studies and no quantitative measures of the effectiveness of the different active ingredients of being supported by an assistance dog. The articles included in this review cover such a wide range of interventions with varying degrees of detail that writing an academic paper on design and methods issues associated with evaluating complex and non-traditional interventions in social care, as originally proposed, may be unrealistic. (Edited publisher abstract)
A scoping review of evidence on the use and effectiveness of decision aids in adult social care
- Authors:
- BAXTER Kate, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Long-Term Care, April 2021, pp.100-113. Online only
- Publisher:
- King's College London
- Place of publication:
- London
Context: Social care-related decisions can be complex but despite their widespread use in health care to help patients make similarly complex decisions, the use of decision aids in social care is not well examined. Objective: To review the international research evidence on decision aids in adult social care and investigate the availability of such aids for planning later life care on adult social care-related websites in England. Methods: Decision aid was defined broadly. Systematic searches for empirical research evidence published in English between 2000 and 2020. Searches were undertaken in January and February 2020. Websites of 11 UK social care-related voluntary and quasi-governmental organisations plus 53 English local councils searched for decision aids. Findings: Five papers published between 2001 and 2019 reported the development of five different decision aids. Two decision aids were web-based; three were paper-based or of unspecified formats. Two were assessed against international criteria for decision aids. Three further papers reported evaluations of the effectiveness of two of these aids. Most social care-related websites searched did not offer any relevant decision tools. Limitations: Some papers described tools that were primarily research instruments. Relevant papers may have been missed due to technical challenges. Not all council websites were searched. Implications: Future research to develop decision aids might benefit from drawing on earlier literature about people’s attitudes to and readiness to engage with care planning and how this translates into willingness to use decision aids. Combining decision aids with strengths- and asset-based approaches in adult social care practice could be fruitful. (Edited publisher abstract)
Supporting choice: Support planning, older people and managed personal budgets
- Authors:
- BAXTER Kate, GLENDINNING Caroline
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work, 16(4), 2016, pp.453-469.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Summary: English policy emphasises personalised and flexible social care support using ‘Personal Budgets’ (PB) – preferably as cash direct payments. However, most older people opt for their council to manage personal budgets on their behalf. It is not clear what benefits of personalisation are available to this group of older people. This article reports research into the choices available to older people using managed personal budgets to fund home care services in three councils. It focuses on the roles of support planners, in councils and service provider agencies, who are central to supporting choice on the part of service users. Data were collected from three focus groups with 19 council support planning practitioners and interviews with 15 managers of home care agencies. Findings: The study suggests that new commissioning and brokerage arrangements have the potential to give older people using managed personal budgets greater choice and control over their support. However, new communication barriers have also been introduced and some staff report receiving inadequate training for their new roles. Above all, resource constraints were reported to impede council support planners in encouraging users to plan creatively how to use personal budgets. Resource constraints also meant councils placed constraints on how flexibly home care agencies could respond to changing needs and preferences of older users. Applications@ The paper concludes by highlighting the implications of new arrangements for social work practice and some of the barriers that need to be addressed if the potential benefits of personalisation for older people holding managed personal budgets are to be achieved. (Publisher abstract)
Council-managed personal budgets for older people: improving choice through market development and brokerage?
- Authors:
- BAXTER Kate, RABIEE Parvaneh
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Care Services Management, 7(4), 2013, pp.136-145.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper presents findings from interviews with social care service development managers and brokers in three local authorities. It follows an earlier study exploring choice and flexibility in home care services for older people using council-managed personal budgets. That study found that local authorities were limiting the number of providers on framework agreements for home care services so that there were sufficient to encourage competition but not so many that providers risked having insufficient business to remain financially viable. It also found that communication issues were affecting the proper functioning of brokerage systems. The current study therefore revisited the same three local authorities to investigate changes in framework agreements and developments in brokerage systems. The findings showed little change in the number of providers on framework agreements and remaining communication challenges for brokers. However, lessons had been learned from unforeseen consequences of framework agreements, and progress was being made towards encouraging market development and diversification of service provision. (Publisher abstract)
People who fund their own social care: scoping review
- Authors:
- BAXTER Kate, GLENDINNING Caroline
- Publisher:
- NIHR School for Social Care Research
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 50
- Place of publication:
- London
Scoping review which identifies research evidence about people who fund their own social care in England. Specifically the review looks at: the size of the self-funding population and its characteristics (age, region, type of care); information, advice and help available and needed by self-funders; the experiences care providers have of people funding their own social care; and gaps in the available evidence. The review comprised: a search of electronic databases; a search of the websites of selected organisations; and contacts with a small number of organisations known to have been active in research about self-funders. A total of 185 relevant pieces of work published since 2000 were identified, and 71 met the inclusion criteria. Information retrieved focussed on residential care, domiciliary care or both. Evidence suggests that the number and percentage of self-funders has increased in both residential and home care; many felt local authorities were unwilling to help them with their information needs and they were often signposted elsewhere; main information needs were in relation to fees and finances, particularly the long term financial implications of care. Gaps in the research evidence identified include: the number and characteristics of self-funders; factors that influence the level of demand; the levels of support needed; how tasks carried out for self-funders might differ from local authority-funded clients; and the experiences and outcomes for self-funder. Recommendations are made on key areas for potential future research. (Edited publisher abstract)
The role of emotions in the process of making choices about welfare services: the experiences of disabled people in England
- Authors:
- BAXTER Kate, GLENDINNING Caroline
- Journal article citation:
- Social Policy and Society, 12(3), 2013, pp.439-450.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Choice is central to developments in many areas of welfare. Making choices, for example about health, social care, employment and housing, can be very emotional. This article draws on theories from experimental psychology and behavioural economics to analyse empirical evidence from a longitudinal, qualitative study of support-related choices. The study involved 52 disabled people who were interviewed up to three times in 2007-10 whre they discussed making choices about services or support. A wide range of choices were discussed, including choices about health care treatments; social care, such as help at home and direct payments (cash budgets to pay for care); minor and major housing adaptations; and support for employment. All participants experienced emotions in the course of making choices. Most of the emotions discussed were negative, such as fear, worry, stress, isolation and anger. The article that if people are expected to make emotion-laden choices, and to minimise negative aspects associated with the process of making a choice, they need to be supported in doing so. It contributes to the limited evidence and debate to date about the process costs to individuals of choice. (Edited publisher abstract)
Exploring the temporal aspects of direct payments
- Authors:
- ARKSEY Hilary, BAXTER Kate
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 42(1), 2012, pp.147-164.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Evidence suggests that direct payments in England give recipients greater choice and control over their care arrangements. This article reports on empirical research which takes a longitudinal perspective about the use of direct payments. Thirty study participants were interviewed three times between 2007 and 2009. The findings are organised into six themes: journeys in and out of direct payments; on-going contact with social services; changing service user circumstances; self-development and learning through time; impact of direct payments on families; and changing relationships. Findings revealed that direct payments recipients need support in understanding the long-term issues that might arise, as well as on-going monitoring and advice from knowledgeable practitioners as their situations, needs and capabilities change through time. The authors concluded that the findings have implications for the future roll-out of personal budgets, since direct payments are likely to be a common form of deployment. Implications for improving the roll-out of direct payments are discussed.