Writing about social care 

Social care is a unique area of research with a distinct audience.

We have received feedback that many social care audiences feel excluded or overlooked by our offering.

One of the key things to consider when writing for social care audiences is the terms you use which may make them feel excluded from the information or the discussion.

Use of the terms ‘patients’ ‘clinical’ ‘healthcare’ are immediate negatives for a social care reader. Use of these terms in pages and throughout copy can make social care readers feel the information or the product is not relevant to them, even when it often is. 

If a project or funding call does not immediately say social care, please make it explicitly clear in the text that social care proposals or social care involvement is encouraged and that social care is part of the remit. 

Social care research vs health research conducted in a social care setting

A key challenge when starting to identify social care research is the blurring of the boundaries between health and social care research. Care homes are a prime example of a social care setting where care is provided, but that does not mean all studies and research conducted in care homes are social care research. For example, this case study about Understanding continence care in care home patients living with dementia is primarily a health research study. But this example of virtual quizzes reducing loneliness is a social care research study. Although both take place in social care settings, the focus and the outcomes for people involved are much different.

Social care research focuses on social care outcomes, whether this is a change to practice, methods of support or other outcomes. It does not focus on a health outcome.

Key terminology

Service users

The term ‘service users’ is often used in social care but it can be divisive. Many of the people who the term aims to describe dislike it intensely.

These terms can be used as alternatives to 'service users':

• people who need care and support

• people who draw on social care support

• people who use social care services

The point is that we are about people first and foremost, and language should reflect this.

The term ‘patients and the public’ has been used in the past to encompass people who draw on social care support, however it does not quite capture the necessary people aspect of social care terminology. 

Carers

There are 6.5 million unpaid carers who provide support to a partner, family member, friend or neighbour who is ill, struggling or disabled and could not manage without this help. This is distinct from a care worker or practitioner, who is paid to support people.

Social care practitioners

Those who work in social care are paid professionals, use terms such as ‘social care practitioners’ or ‘social care professional’ when describing them, or their job titles such as social worker or occupational therapist.  

The term ‘social care workforce’ is a commonly used one and generally accepted. The term ‘staff’ should be avoided as there are a lot on zero hours contracts.

The term ‘caregiver’ is used in the US and other countries so may appear in social care writing. If writing for a more international audience it may be useful to use 'caregiver or 'carer'.

Settings

Social care is often provided in people’s homes, community settings such as day centres or nursing or care homes (often residential). These are not clinical settings or NHS settings.

Children and young people

Generally, the delivery of social care is divided between services for adults and those for children and young people. Previously, the NIHR has focused on adult social care research as this was an under-served area. Our remit of research is expanding to include more children and young people's social care.

We have funded and continue to fund children’s social care research through our Health and Social Care Delivery research programme. The Research for Social Care call will now also fund research on social care policy and practice relating to children and young people.

When writing about social care, it is important to understand this distinction and that a practitioner audience will work with adults or children and young people. The definition of scope lies at the programme or call level, and it is often necessary to point out whether potential funding could cover projects in adult or children and young people’s social care, or both.

Glossary and more information

Definitions of common social care terms such person-centred, care plan, care navigator and safeguarding can be found in these useful glossary pages:

• Think Personal Act Local jargon buster

• CQC glossary for provider managers

• Carers Trust understanding social care terminology

• Skills for Care is also a good source for learning about the social care workforce