NIHR ARC TV Doctoral Award: Proactive care for carers: a mixed methods study to identify risk and optimise targeted support for preventing burnout among informal (family) carers

Background
Family members and friends who provide regular support for someone with long-term health and care needs (also known as informal carers) are the backbone of England's social care ecosystem. Previous research has identified potential stresses of providing ongoing unpaid care, particularly for family members experiencing high-impact health issues such as complex multimorbidity and/or dementia; in some cases these stresses lead to carer fatigue and burnout, with negative consequences for both the carer and cared-for person. The Care Act 2014 requires local government bodies in England to assess informal carers' needs and to promote their wellbeing, but it is not always clear how to do this in the context of limited government funding for carer support, and uncertainty on what kinds of support bring the most benefit for individual carers' diverse situations.

This DPhil award is for a translational research project situated within the NIHR-funded Applied Research Collaboration Thames Valley (ARC TV). Nationally there are 10 ARCs that bring together researchers, health and social care professionals, patients and carers, voluntary organisations that support health and well-being, and decision-makers who fund and provide services; they collaborate to test and implement practical solutions to real-world health and care challenges faced by individuals and communities. This DPhil project will be carried out through the ARC TV research theme on 'Community, Home and Social Care', which has a work strand focus on enhancing support for informal carers.

Aim
To test and develop a data-driven model for identifying informal carers who are at greatest risk of fatigue/ burnout, and to link the identified carers with the most appropriate support for meeting their needs.

Objectives
1. To collect primary data for ongoing validation and refinement of the data-driven model, e.g. through qualitative interviews with carers identified in different risk clusters.
2. To map existing carer support pathways and to identify areas of unmet need.
3. To collaborate with public and professional stakeholders so that research findings inform strategies for commissioning and providing targeted support for informal carers.

Methods
Qualitative research methods (e.g. interviews, observations, focus groups) will be used to collect primary data on the experiences and support needs of informal carers living in diverse contexts. The qualitative data will be analysed alongside quantitative data (e.g. from cross-sectional surveys and/or routinely collected service user data held by local authorities) to link carers' risk profiles (how likely they might be to experience fatigue or burnout) with their individual support needs. A broader mapping exercise, drawing on review of academic and grey literature alongside stakeholder engagement activities, will be conducted to clarify the range of carer support available locally and to identify any gaps. A later phase of the project could include a mixed-methods evaluation of service improvement efforts, for example the introduction of new tools in the carer needs assessment process, and/or the development of new service pathways for connecting carers to the most appropriate available support.

This DPhil project will run alongside other ARC TV doctoral and postdoctoral projects in applied social care research, which all use mixed methods for interdisciplinary research and draw on theoretical approaches from translational health sciences. As a DPhil student you will be the main researcher on this project, but you will be part of the wider 'Community, Home, and Social Care' research theme within ARC TV contributing to the theme's overall objectives and working within its collaborative environment.

Expected outcomes
Research findings are expected to inform policy makers and commissioners of public services on how to best target limited social care resources for meaningful impacts. The evidence generated will lead to better understanding of what kinds of support best prevent carers (in their specific contexts and circumstances) from experiencing fatigue or burnout, and how this preventative support might improve outcomes for carers and the people that they care for.

Alongside production of academic outputs such as peer-reviewed papers and the DPhil thesis, ARC TV researchers are expected to share research findings with non-academic audiences. This could include public-facing blog posts, accessible reports, or policy briefs to inform strategy within local government and carer support organisations.

Preferred applicant background/skills
Applicants must have a first degree in a discipline relevant to applied health research (e.g. social sciences, health sciences, social policy), and ideally some training at Masters' level in qualitative or mixed research methods. This project will involve a high degree of engagement with non-academic stakeholders (research participants, public advisors, social care and public health professionals), so an ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of people and strong communication skills are essential.

Funding

Fees at Home level for 3 years, Overseas applicants welcome to apply but they will need to cover difference in fees. Funding also covers an annual stipend of at least £23,000. Engagement and dissemination costs (for PPI, conferences, etc.) available on request from ARC theme funding

Please note: this funded project is available for full-time students only.

Application process

Applications must be received by 12 noon (UK time) Tuesday 30 June 2026. 

Please apply for the DPhil in Primary Health Care as standard, ensuring that the project title and named supervisors match those in the advertised project.

Your research proposal should include your plans of how you would approach the project, what methods would use and your predictions of results.