A new study led by Keele University will investigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on services that provide support for adults who have care and support needs.

Researchers Dr Laura Pritchard-Jones, Dr Mark Eccleston-Turner, and Professor Alison Brammer have been awarded over £100,000 by The Health Foundation to assess how the pandemic has affected local authorities and Safeguarding Adults Boards (a local group that leads adult safeguarding arrangements across its locality and oversee and coordinates the effectiveness of the safeguarding work of its member and partner agencies) in meeting their legal obligations towards adults with needs for care and support who may be suffering disproportionately as a result of the pandemic.

The researchers will also work with these groups to look at how levels of preparedness differed across the organisations and how this links to the impact of Covid-19.

The study aims to deliver a significant contribution to understanding the impact of the pandemic on adult social care and safeguarding law and practice, and to highlight what changes to service delivery have occurred, particularly in relation to how local authorities and Safeguarding Adults Boards manage their legal obligations during the pandemic.

By carrying out this research, valuable knowledge and best practice will be developed and shared about the challenges and solutions that local authorities have developed in response to Covid-19.

Dr Pritchard-Jones said: “We are thrilled that The Health Foundation has funded this research, and we hope that it will provide a strong evidence base as to the challenges that Covid-19 has presented to this sector.”