STARQ: Staffing and its Relationship to Quality in Care Homes

Research Context: Staffing is the largest operating cost in care homes and quality of care provided within care homes is contingent on its workforce. In recent years, quality of care in the sector has come under increasing scrutiny, and practice and policy concerns have been raised about staffing levels, recruitment and retention. Beyond broad recognition that 'staff influence quality', little is known about the UK care home workforce and its relationship to quality of care.

Research Aim: To examine the relationship between the deployment of the care home workforce (and associated skill mix) and the impact on:

• quality of care;
• outcomes for residents, relatives and staff; and
• the use of NHS resources.

This is work in progress, funded by the National Institute for Health Research, Health Services Delivery and Research programme (£1m). The research started: July 2017 and is expected to complete in 2021.

You can read full details here

Contact: k.spilsbury@leeds.ac.uk