September 2, 2024
A distinguished Economist renowned for his profound impact on social and health care research both nationally and internationally. Throughout his career, he tirelessly pursued the aim of enhancing the lives of those reliant on these crucial services.
Julien (Jules) Forder joined the Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU) at the University of Kent in 1992, later relocating to PSSRU at the London School of Economics (LSE) in 1996. His leadership extended beyond academia, including at the Department of Health and Social Care in the Strategy Unit (2002-2004) to advise Ministers on social care and related areas of health policy. Jules was then seconded to the King’s Fund (2005–2006) as the project lead for the Wanless social care review (Securing-good-care-older-people) which was a major review on social care for older people. Jules also led the modelling of the costs and benefits of different funding options for social care to support the Dilnot Commission on Funding of Care and Support alongside Dr José Luis Fernandez (Care Policy and Evaluation Centre (CPEC), LSE) (Funding options for social care). The Commission’s report directly led to policy reform of long-term care funding as passed in the Care Act 2014.
PSSRU (Kent) were fortunate to have Jules back in 2007 when he returned as Professor of Economics of Social Policy, to the position of Deputy Director (2007–2013) and then Director (2013 – 2018). During this time, Jules demonstrated his excellence in generating research income. In 2010, Jules became the Director of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Quality and Outcomes (QORU) (2010-2018) and was a collaborator in the Economics of Health and Social Care Systems Research Unit (ESHCRU). In 2014, Jules became the Associate Director of the NIHR School for Social Care Research (SSCR) (2014-2019).
In 2018, Jules demonstrated his leadership, commitment to the wider university and students by taking the role of Head of School of the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research (SSPSSR, Kent) (2018 – 2020). During this period, SSPSSR enjoyed increased levels of student recruitment and research funding success. His leadership and research contributions played significant parts in the School being ranked 3rd in the UK for its overall research quality in the Social Work and Social Policy Unit of Assessment, with 100% of its environment being classed as world-leading in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF2021).
In 2021, Jules returned to PSSRU as the Co-Director alongside Karen Jones.
“It has been an absolute pleasure to work alongside someone with such amazing intelligence and insight. As Co-Directors we had to balance the expectations of funding applications and projects with being mindful that the health and well-being of colleagues are equally important alongside providing a flexible, supportive and inclusive working environment. We would often discuss how we complemented each other – Jules was a great friend and an inspiring person to work alongside. My love goes out to Jules’ wife and family at this time” (Karen Jones).
Alongside his pivotal role at PSSRU, Jules continued to demonstrate his talent with funding applications and research programmes. For example, Jules served as the Director of the NIHR Quality, Safety and Outcomes Policy Research Unit and the Deputy Director of the Adult Social Care Policy Research Unit. He also played a key role as the social care national and regional lead for the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey & Sussex, alongside being the social care co-lead for the Health Foundation REAL Supply Research Unit.
Throughout his career, Jules demonstrated his passion to deliver high quality research that made a difference within the social and health care sector and to people’s lives. With this aim, firstly Jules had the determination to continuously disseminate research findings. His work is held with high regard and has been published in the strongest of academic journals. In total, he is the author and co-author of more than 150 journal articles, official reports, discussion papers and book chapters. Secondly, Jules significantly contributed to building the much needed research capacity by supporting early career researchers.
Jules always believed in the importance of research being informed and guided by people with lived experiences of receiving services. His legacy is marked by his unwavering belief in the transformative power or research to drive positive change in the social and health care sector.
“Jules was a special man in many ways, he was, as I would call it a very ‘big cheese’ in academia and economics, but behind that he was a sensitive, kind and thoughtful chap who recognised people as individuals and not as points on a career ladder. So it came as no surprise to me that he was open, warm and encouraging to us the ‘members of the public’ with whom he worked with. We had a close working relationship, he never made us feel unimportant and we were heard in meetings as much, and sometimes more, than those at the ‘top of the food chain’.
What I really saw in Jules was that he knew his work was important to people like me, to people who pay for public services and those of us who benefit from them. He knew how to filter the unorthodox suggestions we would often give him so that he could use them to enrich the work. As someone who benefits from social care services, I felt privileged to work with Jules, to have him listen to me and act upon my suggestions and to argue till the cows came home with me about anything and everything. He was a ‘real person’ who treated me as a ‘real person’ and I am grateful and proud to have known him and grown with him.” (Jennifer Bostock, Research Advisor)
Jules will be greatly missed by his colleagues and friends within PSSRU and the wider academic community alongside policy colleagues and other external stakeholders.
Jules’ funeral will take place on the 6th September at 2pm – all are welcome to attend, but the family are keen to know possible numbers. If colleagues would like to attend the funeral, then please can you inform Karen Jones for this purpose on K.C.Jones@kent.ac.uk
If you would like to join us for Julien’s funeral, the service will be held on:
Friday 6 September at 2pm at Thames View Crematorium and Cemetery, Gravesend Road, Shorne, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 3JH.
Followed by a wake at: Knowle Country House, The Knowle, School Lane, Rochester, Kent, ME3 7HP.
Flowers from close family only please and any donations can be made to Bowel Research UK.