Further analysis of ASCS and PSS SACE data: Case studies of local authority (LA) practice

The Maximising the value of survey data in adult social care (MAX) project aims to develop toolkits, with local authority (LA) staff where possible, to encourage and support LAs to make more use of data drawn from the ASCS and PSS SACE1 to inform local policy and practice. The initial fact-finding phase (MAX Phase 1) activities aimed to:learn more about how LAs currently use ASCS and PSS SACE data, including identifying local practices and barriers; identify potential uses of the data to inform local decision-making; and inform the development of a toolkit to support LAs to make better local use of the data. Along with two analysis and interpretation consultation panel workshops conducted early in the second phase of the project, 139 staff from 95 LAs have so far taken part in MAX. In summary, the findings from these activities demonstrate that LAs generally seem to value the ASCS and PSS SACE and, to some extent, are using the views of service users and carers to inform local service planning and delivery. However, there were several challenges. One of these, identified by just over half of the LAs, concerned analysing the survey data and interpreting the findings to address local questions. A number of barriers seem to underlie this challenge, including difficulties with: identifying local information needs; managing and analysing ASCS and PSS SACE data; and being allocated sufficient time to conduct further analysis. While some LAs find analysing ASCS and PSS SACE data challenging, others are carrying out local statistical analysis, over and above those required for national (ASCOF) reporting. The case studies reported here describe how three local authorities have used and analysed the ASCS and PSS SACE data to support local decision-making. In turn, the case studies will be used to inform the development of ‘how to’ guides and tools to help LAs analyse and interpret survey data, as well as report and interpret analysis finding

Meeting local information needs with ASCS and PSS SACE data

Blog summarising the key findings from the case study of further analysis, conducted with three local authorities during the fact-finding phase of the MAX project, which identified three local practices that maximised the local relevance and value of survey data: adding questions to the surveys, conducting further analysis and drawing on supplementary sources of data

Using ASCOT in care planning conversations

Report on a joint UK-Australian project which trialled a new and innovative use of the ASCOT tool in residential aged care planning to help staff initiate and hold conversations with residents, including those with dementia, about their emotional and social wellbeing

Feasibility, factor structure and construct validity of the easy-read Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT-ER)

Background: The ASCOT-ER is an adapted easy-read version of the ASCOT-SCT4, a selfreport measure of social care-related quality of life (SCRQoL) for social care evaluation. In this study, we investigated the instrument’s feasibility, construct validity and factor structure. Method: Data were collected from 264 service users in England. Feasibility was evaluated by missing data and help to complete the questionnaire. Scale dimensionality was assessed using exploratory factor analysis. Construct validity was evaluated by hypothesis testing. Results: Convergent validity was supported by moderate to strong correlations between ASCOT-ER and personal wellbeing and overall quality of life, as well as with individual characteristics. Exploratory factor analysis indicated that the ASCOT-ER is a unidimensional scale. Low missingness indicates that the instrument is feasible; however, most respondents needed some level of support to complete the questionnaire. Conclusion: The study provides preliminary evidence of the ASCOT-ER’s feasibility, unidimensionality and construct validity

How can MAX help local authorities to use social care data to inform local policy? Maximising the value of survey data in adult social care [MAX] project [Full report]

Executive summary of the MAX working paper - How can MAX help local authorities to use social care data to inform local policy? Maximising the value of survey data in adult social care [MAX] projec

Japanese translation and cross-cultural validation of the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT) in Japanese social service users

Background: The aim of this study was to develop and perform cross-cultural validation of a Japanese version of the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT) four-level Self-Completion questionnaire (SCT4) instrument to measure Social-Care Related Quality of Life. It was important to develop a Japanese version of the ASCOT-SCT4 and validate it in the Japanese context, given the interest in measuring outcomes of social care services in Japan. Methods: The original version of ASCOT-SCT4 was translated into Japanese following good practice guidelines. Additionally, comments and feedback were obtained from an independent committee engaged in managing and providing social care services to refine the flow of sentences of the newly developed translated version. The resulting version was tested for cross-cultural validation among community-dwelling adults who use social care services to confirm the factorial structure and the scale system of the Japanese version, using Structural Equation Modeling and Item Response Theory. Results: Vigorous discussion was needed to translate the original version into Japanese especially for the items control over daily life and dignity. These two items were linguistically difficult to express in everyday language so potential participants could easily understand the intended concepts. In the cross-cultural validation, we obtained values for model fit within the acceptable range: between 0.706 and 0.550 for factor loadings, 0.923 for the Comparative Fit Index, 0.910 for the Tucker-Lewis Index, and 0.083 for the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation. This confirmed the factorial structure of the Japanese version. The IRT analysis, however, revealed that the scale system needed refinement to facilitate appropriate differentiation between each response option. Conclusions: This study provided preliminary evidence that the Japanese version of ASCOT-SCT4 is valid. As a result, the Japanese version was finalized and approved by the instrument developer