Editorial
Evidence, expertise and the future of social care nursing: time to claim our space Caroline Morton , Claire Pryor
Adult social care nurses support some of the most clini- cally complex individuals in the system, yet the extent of their expertise often remains underestimated and under- valued. The dominant narrative continues to reinforce the perception of social care as a less specialised and less evidence-based area of nursing practice. This is despite a growing body of international research showing the sophistication of nursing practice within these environ- ments, such as the recent international scoping review of advanced nursing roles in care homes and charitable organisations. 1 Although ‘social care’ is a term most commonly used in England, it is gaining recognition in countries such as Ireland, Canada and Australia, while internationally, similar services may be described as ‘long term care’. 2 The presence of registered nurses across these settings varies depending on the specific service model and context. Social care nurses manage advanced clinical deci- sion making, negotiate significant legal and ethical risks and deliver personalised care that directly influences population health. 2 As we move towards a National Care Service, and transition care out of hospitals and into the community, tapping into the knowledge and expertise of nurses in social care is vital to ensure people remain at the heart of care, and service models truly encompass the full breadth of ‘community’ care provision. The specialist nature of social care nursing needs far greater recognition, and the evidence base will only strengthen if social care nurses are recognised as equals by peers. Building on momentum and existing capacity ensures social care nurses have a more visible and influ- ential role in leading and shaping the research that informs their practice. The 2024–2025 Skills for Care Workforce data show that, in England, there are circa 35 000 nurses working across social care. More than 70% of these nurses have worked in the sector for over ten years, with an average of 17.8 years in social care, highlighting the depth of expertise and experience within the workforce 3 and its attractiveness as a sector of choice for employment. Regulatory and professional standards reinforce the expectation that social care practice is grounded in evidence. The Care Quality Commission 4 expects that providers ‘plan and deliver people’s care and treatment with them, including what is important and matters to them… in line with legislation and current evidence-based good practice and standards’. Similarly, the Nursing and Midwifery Council 5 is clear that ‘Regis- tered nurses play a vital role in providing, leading and coordinating care, that is, compassionate, evidence- based and person-centred’ with evidence and research being explicit in eleven proficiencies within the seven platforms of the Standards of proficiency for registered nurses.
It is widely accepted across nursing literature that engaging with evidence-based practice improves outcomes for those who use services. 6 The autonomy and independent decision-making expected of social care nurses means they must remain up to date with best practice. However, there is a notable lack of research that examines the impact and application of evidence- based practice across social care settings by nurses. This is not to call into question the level or quality of care provided, more so to champion increased funding, research and dissemination activity to bring into clear focus the wealth of innovative, impactful practice that occurs in social care nursing settings, but is often not visible. The diverse nature of social care nursing means there is considerable variation in how nurses work with the people they care for, their roles and responsibilities and how they use their skills and experiences. This, combined with the ‘pragmatic, modest and care focussed’ nature of social care nurses, 7 recruitment and retention chal- lenges 8 and the smaller and more isolated nature of many providers compared with the NHS, 9 creates signif- icant structural constraints for the sector. As a result, social care settings often have limited access to the infrastructure, research partnerships, academic collabo- ration or funded inquiry that other areas of nursing rely upon. This, in turn, may reduce opportunities for nurses to engage with, contribute to or lead the research activity that underpins their practice. Addressing this imbalance is essential if social care nursing is to claim its space as a specialist area of evidence-informed practice. We now find ourselves at a pivotal moment. The new Fit for the Future plan 10 recognises the vital role of care delivered where people live, and there is growing momentum behind strengthening student nurse expo- sure to social care through education and placements. 11 Alongside national aspirations for health and social care to expand nurse-led research, strengthen research careers and create greater opportunities for nurses at every level to engage with evidence generation. 12 This renewed policy focus creates an important opportunity to strengthen the evidence base that specif- ically underpins social care nursing. National initiatives such as the NIHR School for Social Care Research and the Adult Social Care Applied Research Collaboration, together with current work to identify research priori- ties for the profession and research funders, 13 14 signal a welcome shift in attention and investment. The momentum is already visible in the expanding body of social care research such as the Department of Health and Social Care’s Adult Social Care Nurse Prescribing Pilot. We have strong national advocates shaping these discussions. The next step is enabling social care nurses across all settings to feel confident, equipped and
10.1136/ebnurs-2026-104557
School of Health and Society, University of Salford, Salford, UK
Correspondence to: Caroline Morton; c .j.m orton@ salford.a c.uk
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Evid Based Nurs Month 2026 | volume 0 | number 0 |
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