Q Step Summer Research Projects 2017

Project leader / Supervisor / Jason Snowden (Department of Health)
Chris Forde (Leeds University Business School)
Email /

Project Title / Long term demand for adult social care services
Project reference / EXT-07-DHJS_1
Location of Placement / Social Care, Aging and Disability directorate, Department of Health, Quarry House, Leeds, LS1
Brief overview of project (including whether it involves quantitative or qualitative research)
This project will involve working with the Social Care, Aging and Disability Directorate in the Department of Health on a project relating to long-term demand for adult social care.
The Department of Health commissions research to establish projections of the long term demand for adult social care services – to the year 2069/70. These are based on ONS population projections, Local Government activity collections and economic forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility. These will split demand by age groupings and we will need to analyse the output to (a) check it has taken account of known changes to the data inputs and (b) in comparison to previous projections, highlighting any significant differences in either size or impact on adult social care.
This is a chance to see how multiple datasets are brought together and have a real world impact as these projections will determine our estimates for the costs of future social care and what is driving increases in expenditure.
The key development/learning areas will be: advanced Excel skills, presenting data and reporting to a senior audience. The work will involve the generation and analysis of quantitative data. Applicants should have good quantitative analysis skills, and be able to work as part of a dynamic team in a fast-moving environment, and be able to work independently on tasks, with some direction and management from the Department of Health analysis team.
Links to external organisation/s (if relevant)
The Department of Health (DH) helps people to live better for longer. They lead, shape and fund health and care in England, making sure people have the support, care and treatment they need, with the compassion, respect and dignity they deserve. DH is a ministerial department, supported by 15 arm’s length bodies and a number of other agencies and public bodies. The department employs 2,160 staff who work in locations across the country. Many of the DH statistical analysis, workforce planning and team are based in Quarry House in Leeds.

Nature of tasks to be pursued by the placement holder (and quantitative/qualitative research skills to be developed)
  • Analyse quantitative datasets and forecasts to provide assessments and estimates of long-term demand for adult social care services
  • Look at differences in demand for adult social care compared to previous projections
  • Present findings in written and verbal formats to senior level audiences

Nature of contact with/support for placement holder from staff member
  • Induction meeting
  • Regular meetings with project leader at Department of Health
  • Line managed byJason Snowden at Department for Health
  • Weekly contact with academic supervisor (Chris Forde, University of Leeds)