Understanding how unregistered practice in social work can be developed and guidance, training and support targeted to improve outcomes and provision for people accessing adult social care services.

In local authorities (LAs) in England, unregulated staff, referred to here as 'other trained staff' (OTS) are independently managing caseloads and undertaking increasingly complex casework with adults.

The OTS group present a 'hidden' workforce with a gap in research evidence related to their role and impact on service user (SU) experience.

Working beyond their scope of practice with lack of role definition, regulation or SW qualification may result in unintended consequences for SUs especially if staff do not receive regular training or supervision. The OTS staff group provide cheaper labour but it is not clear how, if, or in what contexts financial savings are made.

Staff may be exploited or placed in positions where they feel overwhelmed but uncomfortable refusing work or cases.

Research Question How can OTS practice be developed and guidance, training and support targeted to improve outcomes and provision for people accessing adult social care services?

Aims and Objectives This research will examine the work of OTS as unregulated practitioners in comparison with qualified and regulated SW practice. It will critically explore the experiences of SUs and the views of managers.

The study will produce new understandings of OTS practice that is rarely explored in depth as research mainly focuses on regulated SW practice.

I propose to: 1) Compare tasks and activities associated with OTS and SW roles and develop understanding of role overlap and key factors that lead to case transfers between OTS and SWs. 2) Compare how OTS and SWs manage key areas of practice including risk management, decision making and ethical dilemmas. 3) Compare OTS and SW practice examining the limitations of OTS practice skills and knowledge and how the OTS practice remit is defined.

Methods I will undertake a Content Analysis of SU case records (30) that contain both SW and OTS perspectives to develop insights into differences and overlap between roles and the key factors that lead to case transfers between the staff groups. I will undertake a qualitative observational study of OTS and SWs in statutory practice in South-West England.

I will purposively recruit pairs of OTS, SWs and SUs (up to 40 people) and observe their meetings where real practice will be visible.

I will undertake individual semi-structured interviews with all OTS, SW and SUs involved in observations and with up to eight direct managers of OTS and SWs. Together, these methods will provide a broad understanding of the OTS role, their practice skills and support needs. Timeline for delivery This research will be conducted over three years.

Early findings will be available in year two and in year three all findings and recommendations will be produced.

Likely impact and Dissemination I will undertake workshops with national stakeholders, including managers from LAs and organisations such as Research in Practice and Skills for Care, to discuss and test my findings and co-design recommendations and actions to develop OTS practice.

Findings and recommendations will inform effective use of staff resources, staff development and training initiatives and will be disseminated locally and nationally.