From Engagement to Impact: How Collaboration is Shaping Adult Social Care Evidence in Scotland
The Challenge
Adult social care faces significant pressures in Scotland, including increasing demand, complexity of need and long-standing evidence gaps. Historically, limited access to research-ready social care data has constrained the ability of policymakers and analysts to draw on robust evidence.
Early engagement with the Scottish Government Social Care Analytical Unit (SCAU) identified key barriers to evidence-informed policy, including limited data availability, challenges in linking datasets, and a lack of clearly defined research priorities.
What ADR Scotland did
Convening cross-sector expertise
A central contribution was ADR Scotland’s organisation of the Data with Impact: Spotlight on Adult Social Care event in March 2025. Led by ADR Scotland and collaboratively delivered with SCAU and SCADR, with Professor Iain Atherton acting as chair, the event brought together Scottish Government analysts, academic experts, Public Health Scotland and third sector stakeholders.
The session focused on three newly available national datasets — the SOURCE Social Care Dataset, Scottish Care Home Census, and the Health and Care Experience Survey. Together, these datasets offer a much clearer and more joined‑up picture of people’s experiences of care – who receives support, in what settings, and how social care interacts with health and wellbeing over time. Facilitated discussions were used to identify evidence gaps, policy-relevant research questions and opportunities for data linkage.
Impact
“This seminar didn’t feel like a beginning. It felt like igniting the flame. We’re past the early groundwork. We have the momentum, the talent, and the infrastructure. We’re now ready - reaching a point where the true potential of Scotland’s social care data can soar.”
Professor Iain Atherton, Edinburgh Napier University & ADR Scotland Research Lead, Chair of the Event
Shaping national research priorities
Following the event, ADR Scotland produced a detailed summary capturing shared priorities and research questions. This work directly informed the development of the Social Care Analytical Unit Areas of Research Interest (ARI) 2026–2029, which provides Scotland with a clear, strategic long-term research agenda for adult social care. Academic participants from the event remained involved in shaping the ARIs, strengthening links between government and the research community.
Enhancing research capacity
One academic participant, Dr David Henderson, successfully applied for a University of Edinburgh – Scottish Government Policy Fellowship and is now embedded within the Social Care Analytical Unit. Over a six-month period, the fellowship is supporting SCAU to assess research feasibility and prioritise work in line with the published ARIs, representing a direct pathway from engagement to embedded analytical capacity.
Improving data readiness
ADR Scotland is working closely with partners, including Public Health Scotland, to improve the accessibility and research readiness of key datasets, which are being prepared for secure access and linkage within the National Safe Haven, enabling future research at scale.
Sustaining collaboration
Following the event, participating researchers began forming a community of practice for adult social care research which is now being expanded with plans to involve government analysts and policymakers, as well as public and third sector professionals. This collaborative network will enable closer collaboration aligned to policy needs, helping to identify emerging priorities early and share expertise in working with administrative social care data.
Why this matters
Through sustained collaboration, ADR Scotland has helped strengthen the culture of evidence‑informed policymaking in adult social care. From shaping national research priorities to embedding academic expertise and unlocking future data‑driven research, the outcomes achieved demonstrate the value of cross‑sector partnership in addressing complex policy challenges.
