Support workers in social care in England: a scoping study

Area of Science:

• Social Care Research
• Healthcare Support Worker Studies
• United Kingdom Social Policy

Background:

• The role of support workers in UK social care is expanding, particularly with personalized care models.
• There is a need to understand the current evidence base regarding these crucial workers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping study on support workers in UK social care.
• To describe the existing evidence base and identify knowledge gaps.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive search of multiple bibliographic databases was performed.
• Studies published since 2003 were included in the review.

Main Results:

• The support worker role is characterized by fostering service user independence, performing cross-sector tasks, and lacking professional affiliation.
• Identified studies were mainly small-scale qualitative projects examining role clarity, training, pay, satisfaction, and time allocation.
• Key issues identified include definitional confusion, lack of longitudinal data, and limited evidence on employment terms, accountability, and performance.

Conclusions:

• The research base requires more longitudinal studies and clearer definitions for support workers.
• Further analysis is needed on the value and resourcing of training for support staff.
• Increased reliance on support workers, including personal assistants, necessitates closer examination of their roles within evolving care models.