Practice Evaluation Scheme

Please note that the SSCR Practice Evaluation Scheme is now closed for applications. 

Through this funding, practitioners in adult social care can partner with researchers to evaluate what works in your organisation.

Deadline for applications: 5pm Friday 13th February 2026.

• Aims

  This funding opportunity aims to: 

  • Support projects that combine the strengths of academic research and practice-oriented expertise to improve the delivery or implementation of adult social care services;
  • Support the professional development of practitioners working in adult social care services;
  • Provide opportunities to share findings and support improved service delivery in other parts of social care or geographical areas.

  This programme is designed to facilitate projects which respond to and are highly tailored to the needs of the organisation that will lead the award (the host organisation). 

  Projects will be led by a social care practitioner (the Practice Lead) and supported by an established researcher in a relevant subject area (the Research Supporter). Projects may also involve a small team based at the host organisation and/or with other project partners, including other practice organisations where there are opportunities for collaboration and / or comparative work.

• What are the benefits of applying?

  For Practice Leads: 

  • The opportunity to lead a project to  help address a key question in their organisation 
  • To generate findings and outputs that could support more effective service delivery in their organisation
  • To develop methodological, analytical and research-related skills in ways that are tailored to their individual personal/or organisational development goals
  • To scope opportunities for possible future research funding opportunities. 

  For employers:

  • To enable research projects which directly support their work and priorities
  • To build organisational capacity for practitioner-led research 
  • To enhance professional development opportunities for staff
  • To build and strengthen networks with other service providers and established researchers working across adult social care.

  For the SSCR:

  • To support collaboration between academic research and social care practitioners
  • To support continued professional development and research capacity building initiatives in social care organisations
  • To support research which is of practical benefit in areas aligned with the remit of the SSCR and Government priorities for the future of social care.

• What type of projects can be funded?

  We wish to fund research or evaluation projects which address a key question around an area of uncertainty in practice or service delivery at the host organisation. For example, projects might focus on: 

  • Evaluating a current aspect or aspects of service delivery to aid decision-making about the adoption of future service models
  • Testing the feasibility of a new practice framework or a proposed intervention to improve new policies or procedures
  • Undertaking research to develop evidence-based training materials for professionals in the host organisation.

  This is an open call but projects should align with one or more of our research themes (Annex 1).  We also particularly welcome applications that align with one or more of the three Government ‘big shifts’ and their relevance to social care. These shifts are: 

  • Hospital to community;
  • Analogue to digital;
  • Treatment to prevention.

  We also welcome proposals which include rigorous and novel methods, topic areas that are not represented in our current portfolio of research, and research or evaluations looking at interventions targeting populations with high social care needs which have been historically underserved (e.g. black and minority ethnic participants, people with learning disabilities, people with dementia).

• How much funding is available?

  The SSCR has £800k dedicated to this scheme in total. We plan to make 8-10 awards between £75k – £100k each. We will also consider awards which are higher or lower in value if they demonstrate a particularly strong fit with our review criteria. 

  If all available funds are not distributed in this round, they will be rolled forward into a subsequent call. 

  How funding is managed

  This funding must be issued and managed by the host organisation on behalf of the Practice Lead; we cannot issue this funding to an individual. Every application must have confirmation from someone with financial responsibility at the host organisation to verify that the organisation is willing and able to manage this funding for the full duration of the award. 

  If funding is successful, the SSCR will set up a funding contract outlining the key terms of the project. The host organisation will then complete a short finance report and invoice the University of York in arrears every quarter to receive the funding throughout the award. 

• Eligibility

  To be eligible for funding, applications must: 

  • Be led by a named practitioner (the Practice Lead) and supported by an experienced researcher (the Research Supporter).
  • Have potential benefit to the delivery of adult social care services in England. The SSCR is funded to improve the evidence base of social care in England; we are open to receiving applications from Wales, NI or Scotland but these must include some comparative work with England with benefits to services in England clearly articulated.
  • Align with one or more of our research themes or one or more of the three Government ‘big shifts’.

  If applications are focused on an intervention or practice framework, the intervention or practice must have secure funding throughout the duration of the proposed SSCR award. 

• Who can apply?

  We welcome applications from individuals working in practice-based organisations or roles related to adult social care and the research programme of the School for Social Care Research.

  Our definition of ‘practitioner’ is very broad and may include people who work in:

  • Provider organisations delivering front-line adult social care;
  • Local authorities or adult social care departments in desk-based roles;
  • The voluntary sector or community interest companies.

  If you are interested in applying but are unsure whether you may be eligible then please contact us via sscr@york.ac.uk. 

• Project Teams

  Practice Leads

  The Practice Lead will be expected to take ownership of the project, its design, execution and associated reporting. They are not expected to have a significant track record in research as this scheme aims to widen opportunities for individuals to build research skills in practice settings. It is also expected that the Practice Lead will have the appropriate guidance to do this from the Research Supporter. Up to £1000 of the proposed budget may be used towards training for the Practice Lead in relevant research methods to support the delivery of their project. 

  This award may be suitable for an individual early in their research career and/or to develop and early evaluation of an aspect of service delivery which might be scaled up for future research funding. 

  Co-applicants

  Alongside the Practice Lead, this award also provides financial support for small teams of co-applicants who will support the delivery of the project. Teams of co-applicants may include project partners, practitioners at the same organisation or people with lived experience. Teams may also include senior practitioners who may provide mentoring and support, but the project should ultimately be led by the Practice Lead. 

  Research Supporters

  Each project must include a named Research Supporter. This individual will work with the Practice Lead to design the project and provide mentorship throughout the award. While they do not need to have existing links with the SSCR, they should be able to evidence (i.e. via publications or funding record) a strong and reputable social or health care  research background with relevant expertise in the project area.

  Connecting with Researchers

  The School for Social Care Research comprises a wide network of established and experienced social care researchers in England, working across a broad range of themes and subject areas. Prospective applicants or organisations without  existing links to established researchers are encouraged to identify and engage with a member of the School who can assist with making these links (subject to capacity).

• What types of activities can the funding be used for?

  This funding can be used for: 

  • Full- or part-time salary backfill of the Practice Lead and project team. Salary costs can include National Insurance and pension contributions, and other costs usually covered by the employer. 
  • Research consumables that aren’t currently available at the host organisation (e.g transcription costs, participant fees for focus groups/interviews, database subscription fees, etc.)
  • Travel and accommodation costs for up to two people in the host organisation to attend the SSCR conference
  • Up to £1000 for relevant training in research methods to support the delivery of the project.

  We will not fund: 

  • Costs associated with the delivery of the intervention/framework you wish to evaluate
  • Travel to or attendance at international conferences
  • Salary or supervision costs for the Research Supporter without strong rationale (see below).

  A small, proportional contribution towards the Researcher Supporter’s time is eligible only where absolutely necessary and not doing so would mean that the researcher is unable to be named – i.e. they are an early or mid career academic on a research-only contract.

  Accurate costing and budgeting is very important, and applications will be assessed on their value for money and whether the project is making sensible use of the requested funds. In the development of the project plans, the Practice Lead should work closely with the Research Supporter to ensure that costs are fully justified and proportional to the planned activity.

• How long can projects run for?

  Projects can last between 12 and 24 months. Project activity can begin from July 2026  following necessary contracting processes and should finish by June 2028. 

  We will consider applications for a shorter period if they are particularly strong, and the proposed plan of work makes sense in the context of the organisation and the strengths of the project team. 

  Applicants are required to complete a Gantt chart outlining the key milestones and planned activities in their project., including timelines for obtaining necessary ethical approval for any project activity.

• Expectations

  For the Practice Leads/Project Teams: 

  • Attend at least one SSCR Annual conference during their project, where they will share a poster of their project and any associated findings. 
  • Produce a briefing showcasing their evaluation outcomes, which will be made available on the SSCR website. 
  • Explore other formal means of sharing their methods and outcomes to support replication or implementation in other practice organisations.

  For the employer:

  • Ensure that the Practice Lead/project team is supported by the organisation and given sufficient time in their workload to deliver the project as set out in their proposal.
  • Ensure that the host organisation is willing and able to accept and manage this funding, if successful. 

  For the SSCR: 

  • Offer structured support coordinated by the School’s dedicated Career Development Team. This may include invitations to training and relevant events and links with a peer support network of other awardees.

  For the Research Supporter:

  • Support the Practice Lead/Project team engage in appropriate data management planning and ethics approval processes at their organisation.
  • Provide mentorship and guidance throughout the project.

  Ethics and Governance

  We expect applicants to carefully consider the necessary ethical and governance approvals for their project and broadly outline how these will be managed. For further information about whether ethics approval will be required for their project, applicants should use the Health Research Authority (HRA) decision-making tool. If ethics approval is necessary, the timelines for obtaining this should be considered in the overarching project plan. 

  For information more broadly about seeking ethics approval and research governance, see: https://www.hra.nhs.uk/.

• Application form

  Applications must be submitted using the form provided which includes the following sections: 

  1. Applicant details
  2. Practice Lead background
  3. Application summary
  4. Case for support
  5. Resources
  6. Application support
  7. Declarations

  Download a PES application form

• Review criteria

  Applications are reviewed based on the following criteria: 

  • Robust rationale for the planned evaluation/activity
  • Fit with the NIHR SSCR Programme and alignment with one or more thematic priorities
  • Strong and active role of practitioners in the development and implementation of the project
  • Strong applicant profile with a commitment to their professional development
  • Strong and appropriate research support
  • Feasibility
  • Value for money
  • Clear outcomes for the study
  • Potential for impact

• Timeline and Funding Process

  October 2025	Call launches.
  October 2025 – January 2026	Applicants work collaboratively with their research supporter to develop and complete the application form.
  5pm Friday 13th February 2026	Deadline for completed proposals.
  March 2026	Proposals are reviewed by the assessment panel.
  April 2026	Applicants are notified of outcomes. Unsuccessful applicants receive feedback and successful award letters are issued.
  May- June 2026	Contracting with host organisation.
  July 2026 – June 2028	Practice Evaluation awards run.