Starting out in economic evaluation in social care
Wenjing Zhang, King’s College London (SSCR Career Development Award Alumni)
Photo credit: Peter Kindersley via Centre for Ageing Better
In 2022-2024, I was awarded the SSCR Career Development Award for my project Co-developing Economic Evaluation in Social Care: Community-based Care Markets for Older People. This award has been transformative, building on my PhD and postdoctoral work on care markets and commissioning in social care, and enabling me to deepen my expertise in economic evaluation and social care.
Key Achievements
This award provided invaluable opportunities for training, hands-on research, and meaningful collaborations, all of which have significantly impacted my career development:
- Training in economics and economic evaluation
The award allowed me to pursue professional development in economic evaluation within health and social care. Through excellent training courses, I’ve gained a better understanding of economic evaluation methods. I plan to continue this learning and apply these insights to and learn from future economic evaluation elements in social care research projects. - Publishing research and presenting at conferences
The award also facilitated the publication of two key pieces of work: a journal paper on the emerging quasi-market of home care for older people in urban China, and a book chapter about the marketisation of long-term care in East Asia. I also presented my research at the International Conference on Evidence-based Policy in Long-term Care in London in 2022, sharing my findings on the quasi-market for home care in urban China with an international audience. - Building networks with experts, commissioners and people with lived experience
One of the highlights was setting up a collaboration group that brought together academic mentors and experts (Dr Stephen Allan, Dr Marcello Morciano, and Professor Catherine Needham), commissioners, local authority stakeholders, and people with lived experience. Through this group, we hosted discussions on key issues in social care markets and identified potential areas for future research.
I also had the opportunity to visit the University of Modena, where one of my mentors, Marcello, was based. During my visit, I gave guest lectures, engaged with students, and discussed international and comparative studies in social care – an area I am deeply passionate about. The trip was not only professionally enriching but also a wonderful opportunity to experience the culture and food of Italy!
- Developing a research grant proposal
Thanks to the collaboration group, I led the development of a new research bid focused on joint commissioning between health and social care to improve care transitions for older people. We are awaiting the outcome of this bid, which I hope will open doors to further research and collaboration.
Challenges and Lessons Learned
While this journey has been immensely rewarding, it hasn’t been without challenges. As a full-time researcher juggling multiple projects, finding dedicated time for the award activities has been difficult. Time management and prioritisation have been key skills I’ve had to continually develop, and I’ve learned the importance of setting clear boundaries and communicating my focus on the award.
Training opportunities often don’t align perfectly with my preferred timeline. Flexibility is critical in balancing the various activities within the project, which sometimes requires adjusting schedules and timelines.
Additionally, the administrative tasks involved with the award were more time-consuming than anticipated. My advice to future award holders is to not underestimate the amount of administrative work involved, and seek help from relevant departments or colleagues to ensure that you can focus on your research and training without being bogged down by paperwork.
The Impact of the SSCR Career Development Award
The SSCR Career Development Award has been an incredible opportunity for me to access high-quality training, build valuable professional relationships, and produce research that contributes to the policy landscape in social care. Mentorship from experts like Stephen, Marcello, and Catherine has been invaluable, and the support from commissioners, practitioners and public advisers has been crucial in developing our research bid.
This award has provided me with protected time to conduct and develop research on social care markets and their organisation and funding. The connections I’ve made through the collaboration group, and the insights from service users, carers, and practitioners, have shaped my research and made it more impactful.
As I continue with my research and future grant applications, I am deeply grateful for the opportunities the SSCR Career Development Award has provided. I look forward to continuing my contributions to the evidence base on social care markets and their impact on older people’s care. If you’d like to have a chat about this award, whether you’re considering applying for it or currently navigating it, feel free to get in touch with me at wenjing.zhang@kcl.ac.uk.
