Navigating uncharted territory with a borrowed map: lessons from setting up the BATH-OUT-2 randomised controlled trial in adult social care and housing services in English local authorities.

Populations around the world are rapidly ageing and more people are living with multiple long-term conditions. There is an urgent need for evidence about high quality, cost-effective, and integrated systems of health and social care. Health research funders are now also prioritising research in adult social care and wider local authority settings, e.

Bathing Adaptations in the Homes of Older Adults (BATH-OUT-2): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial, economic evaluation and process evaluation.

Background: The onset of disability in bathing is particularly important for older adults as it can be rapidly followed by disability in other daily activities; this may represent a judicious time point for intervention in order to improve health, well-being and associated quality of life. An important environmental and preventative intervention is housing adaptation, but there are often lengthy waiting times for statutory provision. In this randomised controlled trial (RCT), we aim to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of bathing adaptations compared to no adaptations and to explore the factors associated with routine and expedited implementation of bathing adaptations.

Normative puzzles for local government: Managing the introduction of single-handed care in England.

A crisis in social care is apparent across the developed world as ageing populations put unprecedented demand on understaffed social care workforces. A recent popular response to this 'care crisis' within the UK involves the 'innovation' of single-handed care (SHC). SHC involves a care package with two or more homecare workers being reduced to one worker using advanced equipment and new moving and handling techniques.

'Single-handed care' initiatives and reviews of double-handed homecare packages: A survey of practices in English local authorities with adult social care responsibilities.

International health and social care systems are experiencing unprecedented pressure and demand. 'Single-handed care' initiatives seek to identify whether all or part of a homecare package involving more than one care worker can be safely reduced to a single worker. Little is known about these initiatives across local authorities.

Returning to work after long term sickness absence due to low back pain - the struggle within: a qualitative study of the patient's experience.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a major cause of work absence. Assisting individuals back into work is an important part of rehabilitation.

Objective: To explore the experiences of individuals returning to work after an episode of sickness absence due to LBP.