{
  "abstract": "Background Financial challenges, individual case level complexity and rising demand for adult social care place pressure on local decision makers to ensure that scarce resources are used wisely to improve outcomes for service users and local populations. This doctoral study aims to understand the role of evidence within strategic decision making in local government and specifically, adult social care. It seeks to understand how senior leaders (Directors of Adult Social Care, Elected Members) engage with evidence to inform strategic decision making and the role of producers of evidence in local government (researchers, analysts) in supporting decision making.Methods This UK based, qualitative study includes a review of published literature, thematic analysis of the findings from NIHR Local Authority Research Systems studies (n=14) and qualitative interviews (n=20) with Directors of Adult Social Care, Local Authority Analysts/Researchers and Elected Members. The interviews addressed how evidence is defined by local authority officers and elected members within adult social care, the role of evidence within decision making processes and the relationship between decision makers and analysts/researchers. Data generated were analysed through a process of reflexive thematic analysis.Results Analysis is currently ongoing however preliminary findings highlight that a broad definition of evidence is used within decision making processes. Whilst local data is often prioritised in strategic decision making, senior leaders do have an appetite to better utilise research evidence. Existing culture and practice does not enable collaboration, curiosity and challenge between decision makers and analysts, resulting in missed opportunities to generate insight and inform strategic decision making.Conclusion This study provides insight into the ways in which evidence is generated and utilised within adult social care. Recognising that insights are generated from a small number of local authorities (n=7), the findings have the potential to inform both analytical and decision making practice within adult social care.Supervisory team supporting this study: Prof. Eileen Kaner, Prof. Ruth McGovern (Newcastle University) and Prof. Peter Van der Graaf (Northumbria University)",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Clare Humble"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P16-3 Understanding the enablers and barriers to the use of evidence in strategic decision making within Adult Social Care: a qualitative study",
  "uid": "6c2039c0-b67f-5eb8-9bc9-9d835ece9a3f"
}