Professor Clarissa Giebel from the Department of Psychology has secured an NIHR Programme Development Grant to explore the link between work and health among paid and unpaid adult social care workers.
Dr Giebel’s project is one of 16 funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) through its Work and Health Research Initiative. The programme has awarded £1.8m to help reduce health-related economic inactivity and provide important evidence to support people to enter, remain in, or re-enter the workforce.
Dr Giebel’s study will aim to understand the connection between work and health among the paid and unpaid adult social care workforce. This research is vital as many unpaid carers are forced to reduce their working hours or leave the workforce entirely to provide care. This affects the well-being of individuals and families and contributes to staff shortages in the social care workforce.
Dr Giebel, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool and NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast, said: "I’m delighted that we have received this funding. We know that many unpaid carers for people with dementia or other conditions often have to give up their job in order to provide fulltime care, and we also know that working in the social care sector isn’t always well supported. Because both paid and unpaid carers are intertwined, understanding how work impacts health for paid and unpaid carers is vital to improving wellbeing and reducing workforce shortages, and keeping both types of carers in employment."
To support Government priorities, the NIHR has launched its latest round of funding for the Work and Health Research Initiative. £1.8m has been invested in 16 research projects across a range of topics, including employment of the younger workforce, paid and unpaid adult social care workers, the neurodivergent workforce, the migrant workforce, and the armed forces. The findings aim to help shape policy decisions, to support more people to work and reduce health inequalities.
Professor Danny McAuley, Scientific Director for NIHR Programmes, said: “Investing in research that supports employees to stay healthy, happy and remain in work is crucial for the future of our economy. It has the potential to deliver substantial economic and social benefits for individuals, employers and wider society.
“The NIHR’s Work and Health Research Initiative builds on existing investment in research in this area, helping to support the UK’s economic growth and boost health and wellbeing across the UK.”
The Government’s recent Keep Britain Working Review found that, compared to 2019, 800,000 more people are unemployed due to health conditions. Unemployment is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, poor mental health, suicide, and long-term illnesses. This costs the UK £85 billion each year. Long-term sickness in the UK now makes up 30% of total economic inactivity.
The Work and Health Initiative highlights the NIHR’s ongoing support for research that tackles major issues in work, health, and occupational health. Since its inception in 2023, the Work and Health Research Initiative has invested £10 million in research.