Exploring the Influence of Contact with Social Workers on the Quality of Life and Wellbeing Outcomes of Adult Social Care Service Users: How, why, and for Whom? - A realist review protocol [version 1; peer review: 2 approved with reservations]

Background: Adults facing complex health and social care challenges require intervention through the adult social care system. Adult social workers play a vital role in facilitating these interventions to support care delivery and improve outcomes for social care service users. The interactions between adult social workers and service users are central to the provision of social care; however, the impact of these interactions on outcomes remains inadequately understood. This realist review aims to investigate how, why, for whom, and under what circumstances interactions with an adult social worker influence service users' well-being, quality of life, and other essential outcomes in the United Kingdom.

Methods: We will search databases for relevant peer-reviewed articles that explore the perspectives of adult social care users in the United Kingdom. Grey literature will be identified through organisational websites, Overton, Dimensions, and advanced Google searching. Included studies will be assessed for relevance, richness and rigour. Diverse stakeholders, including adult service users, will be consulted to strengthen the depth of understanding and applicability. An interpretative, cross-case comparative approach will guide synthesis, identifying recurring patterns and developing context, mechanism, and outcome configurations. We will follow five iterative steps of conducting a realist review and the Realist and Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards.

Expected result and conclusion: We will identify CMOCs that describe the impact of social workers' contact with adult social care services on service users. Through evidence synthesis and engagement with stakeholders, we will identify CMOCs that describe the impact of social workers' contact with adult social care services on service users and present a programme theory that explains its influence on health and well-being outcomes. This review aims to inform evidence-based practice, offering practical and in-depth insights for policymakers, social workers, and the social care system to improve service delivery and outcomes for service users.

PROSPERO - CRD420256520