CompletedObservational

Why do people leave jobs in adult social care?

This research project, called the 'Leavers Study,' is looking into why people stop working in adult social care in England. If you previously worked in social care and took part in a national survey in 2023, you might be asked to join. Researchers want to understand what makes people leave, how this differs for various jobs and groups, and what new jobs they choose. The study also hopes to find out what might encourage people to stay in social care. By gathering this information, the aim is to help shape better support for care workers and improve recruitment and keeping staff in social care across the country.

At a glance

Status

Completed

Sponsor

King's College London

Enrolment target

Start

24 Nov 2025

Estimated completion

01 May 2026

The potential participants are those who previously took part in a national survey in 2023 about the care work-related quality of life of the Adult Social Care (ASC) workforce in England, but have since left the social care sector. In 2025, Ipsos sent a follow-up survey to the circa 3,000 wave one participants who consented to be recontacted for future research. Only those still working in ASC will be eligible to complete the follow-up survey. Ipsos asked those who have left the sector for permission to keep their names and contact details for further research (until August 2027). Those who consent and previously worked in social care roles will form the eligible sampling frame for the Leavers Study.

What is this study about?

Imagine you've really enjoyed working in social care, helping adults who need support. But for some reason, you decide to leave that job. This study wants to understand *why* that happens. Researchers are interested in hearing from people like you who have previously worked in adult social care roles, such as social workers, care home staff, or home care assistants, and have since moved on.

The main goal of this research is to figure out the different reasons people leave these important jobs. They want to know if these reasons change based on the type of care work you did or your personal background. They also want to learn about what kind of work you moved on to afterwards. Perhaps most importantly, the study hopes to identify what could have made people stay in social care.

This information is really important because it can help make social care a better place to work. By understanding why people leave, the government and care organisations can develop better ways to support staff, attract new people to care jobs, and encourage existing staff to stay. The results of this study will help shape future policies and strategies to strengthen the social care workforce in England.

Key takeaways

This study explores why people leave adult social care jobs in England.
It aims to inform ways to improve support for care workers.
Participation involves a confidential interview about your experiences.
You must have left a social care role and previously participated in a 2023 survey.
The study seeks to understand motivations for new career paths, too.

Who may be eligible?

To be considered for this study, you must have previously worked directly with adults in a care role in England, such as a social worker, residential care worker, or home care assistant. Crucially, you must have left that role and not be working in social care anymore.

Also, a few years ago, in 2023, you would have taken part in a national survey about quality of life for social care staff. In 2025, if you had given permission to be contacted again for future research, the researchers might get in touch. They are specifically looking for people from that original survey who are no longer working in social care.

You need to be an adult, between 18 and 80 years old, male or female, to take part. The study is not suitable for anyone who is still working in the social care sector.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Did you previously work directly in adult social care in England?
Have you since left that social care job?
Did you take part in a national survey about care work in 2023?
Are you between 18 and 80 years old?
Did you give permission for researchers to recontact you for future studies?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you're invited and agree to take part, the study involves a detailed chat with an experienced researcher. This 'interview' will be semi-structured, meaning there will be a guide of topics to discuss, but you'll have space to share your own experiences. The interviews will happen online or over the phone, at a time and place that suits you best.

Before you start, you'll get clear information about the study and be asked to sign a consent form, making sure you fully understand and agree to take part voluntarily. The interview will be recorded and then written down, but all your personal details will be removed and you'll be given a made-up name to protect your privacy. Researchers expect to conduct up to 40 such interviews. The total duration of the study is from October 2025 to August 2026.

Potential risks and benefits

There are no physical risks involved in taking part in this study. You might find that talking about your reasons for leaving your job brings up some strong feelings, such as frustration or sadness. However, the researchers believe these feelings are similar to everyday experiences and many people find that sharing their story can be helpful or even a relief. You can stop the interview at any time if you wish. By sharing your experiences, you'll be helping to improve conditions for future social care workers and contribute to important national policy discussions, which is a significant benefit of participating.

Locations (1)

King's College London
Approximate
London, England

Common questions

What is the main goal of this study?

The study aims to understand why people leave their jobs in adult social care and what might encourage them to stay.

Will my answers be kept private?

Yes, all your personal information will be kept confidential, and your identity will not be shared in the study results.

How long will the interview take?

The interviews are semi-structured, so the length isn't fixed, but they are designed to cover your experiences in detail.

Do I get paid to take part?

The information provided suggests that participants will not receive payment for their time.

Who is running this study?

The study is being run by King's College London, with funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

How to find out more

Wenjing Zhang

Wenjing.Zhang@kcl.ac.uk - Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.