Title: Study to Review and Update the RNF Allocation Formulae for Adult Social Care
Funder: Department of Health (England)

Abstract: Background. The current adult social care RNF distributed around £5.7bn in 2012/13 and the derivation of the funding formulae is widely scrutinised by many individual local authorities and local authority groupings. The formulae have been reviewed and updated periodically, most recently, based upon data collected from local authorities in 2005. Aims The research will develop a new formula (e) for funding local authority adult social care, by the end of March 2014, capable of being implemented from 2015/16 onwards. Consideration will be given to improving upon aspects of the existing funding formulae: increasing the number of authorities contributing to the research; collection of more robust small area level data; and collection of new data on individuals that self-fund their care. Research plan. This will involve: (1) Review of evidence , assessing the principles that should guide resource allocation and the practical methods that will be deployed, including a review of the current academic and policy literature in this field and new policy developments, as they occur. (2) Engagement strategy. Initial consultation, dialogue and engagement with local authorities/stakeholders. (3) Methodology and data specification. Specifying a clear sampling strategy and framework for the data to be collected and ensuring that data requests are consistent with national data definitions and practice, including new data on self-funders. (4) Data collection. Desktop analysis of data sources. Considering existing national data sources and data that will become available e.g. Census 2011, that could potentially be used in a new funding formula, in addition to defining/collecting local small area client data and the collection of new data e.g. on self-funders. This includes dedicated on-site support in order to complete data returns and deal with queries. (5) Data analysis and formula(e) development. Undertaking a robust and transparent statistical analysis to develop a new equitable; objective; and transparent adult social care formula(e), based upon the data collected, with these formula(e) containing appropriate factors and weightings to take account of differing levels of need (and therefore differing costs) within individual local authorities. (6) Dissemination . Communicating the research findings to a wide range of audiences in a transparent manner. Research team. PSSRU developed the current older people's social care formula, and will work closely with public sector funding and finance specialists, LG Futures, who undertook the 2010 feasibility study on data requirements for the development of a potential new adult social care formula(e). The core senior team and specialist advisers would be supported by a wider team of researchers/consultants e.g. for local authority fieldwork. The team combines expertise and experience in adult social care policy; local authority funding formulae; previous roles as local authority officers; survey design; data collection/collation; and statistical analysis, and also has immediate availability. Potential impact/influence. The study will have an impact upon a number of stakeholders, including the DH; CLG; individual local authorities; service providers; and service users. The formula will influence the allocation of adult social care resources to individual authorities, and therefore impact upon the level of funding available for service provision. The study will impact upon policy through the consideration of recent changes in how social care is provided and funded e.g. personalisation, reablement etc.; and the associated implications for a funding formula. The government's response to the potential implications of The Commission on Funding of Care and Support recommendations e.g. client contributions; means testing; and national eligibility criteria, will also need to be considered as part of the study. In addition, new data is expected to be collected in relation to self-funders which will be of value in its own right in a policy context.


Research activity codes: 8.1 ORGANISATION AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES;8.4 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGIES (HEALTH SERVICES)
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE