Identifying ‘hidden’ phenomena for social policy research: methodological reflections from a project exploring Long-Term Care workforce innovation. ​

Identifying extent and nature of innovation is a key concern within human sciences. ​ In social policy, the interest in innovation has recently intensified, due to the need to provide new responses to pressing challenges facing the welfare systems. ​ These include changing demographic trends, with growing population with Long Term Care demands, and widespread staff shortages. ​ Innovation may help to address these issues, but detecting it in the social care domain remains problematic (e.g., due to sector fragmentation and competitive dynamics characterising the services marketisation). ​ In management studies, several methods to locate innovation have been developed, but seldom tested in social policy. ​ The key issue addressed by this paper is the application and usefulness of four methodological approaches to detect innovation, focusing on those connected to the LTC workforce. ​ We will critically discuss the use of a bibliometric index (Literature Based Innovation Output Indicator), stakeholder consultation, systematic examination of social care awards, and documentary internet search. ​ Using a large electronic database, we retrieved 83 potential workforce innovations developed between 2020-2022 (33 in 2020, 36 in 2021, 14 in 2022). ​ We discussed the topic of workforce innovation with 24 stakeholders affiliated to 15 UK-based organisations. ​ The stakeholders suggested 77 potential new practices and provided insights on the role that innovation may play in addressing future workforce challenges. ​ Following a stakeholder’s advice, we consulted the lists of winners of 11 major UK-based social care prizes, locating 92 award-winning initiatives. ​

Finally, we conducted an online search of accredited internet websites, and selected 16 projects with innovative elements. ​ In total, 296 potential LTC workforce innovations were retrieved and grouped into ten clusters (e.g., ‘Recruitment and Retention’, ‘Improvement of working conditions’). ​

Based on the outcomes produced, we argue that the four approaches may be adapted to locate innovation in social policy domains facing challenges like those described. ​ Moreover, we would make the following methodological recommendations: i) Defining and clarifying how innovation should look like is crucial for identification purposes; ii) The methods have strengths and limitations and are useful primarily when used in combination. ​ This allows retrieving innovations at different system levels, and internally validating mutually supplementing data; iii) The methods do not replace primary data collections, necessary for understanding innovation in-depth. ​

To retrieve innovation for social policy research, we propose the adoption of a creative, flexible and pragmatic methodological approach. ​ This proved suitable to detect relatively rare and isolated phenomena, as LTC workforce innovations. ​