The Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU) is one of the leading social care research groups, not just in the UK, but internationally. Since its establishment in 1974, PSSRU has had considerable impact on national social care policy in the UK and in a number of other countries. PSSRU has also established itself as the leading European group on mental health economics and policy, and has an excellent worldwide reputation for its work in this field.

A branch of the PSSRU was established at LSE in 1996, following more than 20 years of policy and practice research at the University of Kent at Canterbury. In the same year a PSSRU branch was opened at the University of Manchester. Directed by Professor Martin Knapp, the LSE branch is part of LSE Health and Social Care, which is located within the Department of Social Policy. The School has a long-established reputation for depth, breadth and excellence in British social science, with a long history of policy impact.

The PSSRU carries out policy analysis, research and consultancy in the UK and abroad. The Unit’s current research programme focuses on needs, resources and outcomes in social and health care, with particular emphasis on economic aspects of community care, residential and nursing home provision, social care markets and commissioning, long-term care finance, and mental health policy. The PSSRU has long had close and productive links with policy makers in the UK and elsewhere.

Mission

The mission of PSSRU is to conduct high quality research on social and health care to inform and influence policy, practice and theory.

Associated with this mission are the following aims:

To conduct long-term research to help shape the developments of social and health care systems, in the UK and internationally, while also responding to more immediate research needs;
To develop and employ rigorous research methods from a multidisciplinary base;
To examine the performance and functioning of social and health care finance, organisation and delivery, with a particular emphasis on promoting efficiency and equity;
To conduct research that meets the best standards of research governance;
To work towards greater user involvement in research;
To disseminate research findings to a variety of audiences through a variety of media; and
To develop the research and related skills of PSSRU staff.

The PSSRU publishes an annual Bulletin, a number of research summaries each year, and a large number of papers, monographs and books.

Information about PSSRU staff is available on the Who's Who page.

For further information about our projects see the Research and Projects page.

For further information about our outputs see the Publications and Presentations pages.

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