Listing of research projects and reports

• read more about Catch Up® Literacy
  Report

  Catch Up® Literacy

  A mixed-methods study evaluating the Catch Up® Literacy programme as delivered to children in care by their foster carers.
• read more about An exploratory study of the emotional wellbeing needs and experiences of care leavers in England
  Report

  An exploratory study of the emotional wellbeing needs and experiences of care leavers in England

  This exploratory study aimed to better understand the services that local authorities (LAs) provide to care leavers to support their emotional wellbeing.
• read more about Research Learning Communities
  Report

  Research Learning Communities

  A qualitative evaluation that aims to improve the Literacy and Mathematics outcomes of Children in Need (CIN) and Looked After Children (LAC).
• read more about Review of mental health services for care-experienced young people
  Report

  Review of mental health services for care-experienced young people

  A report detailing the findings from two rapid reviews of mental health services for care-experienced young people. The reviews explore both the impact and experiences of interventions.
• read more about Supervising Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs)
  Report

  Supervising Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs)

  An evaluation looking at the impact of providing supervision from Senior Social Workers to Designated Safeguarding Leads in 2,400 Primary and Secondary Schools.
• read more about Impact of the Adoption Support Fund on the mental health of adopted children
  Report

  Impact of the Adoption Support Fund on the mental health of adopted children

  A study, conducted by researchers from the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, examining the impact of the Adoption Support Fund on the mental health of adopted children.
• read more about Social Workers in Schools trial
  Report

  Social Workers in Schools trial

  An evaluation of school-based work
• read more about Evaluation of the early help services provided as a part of the Cluster Collaborative in Leeds
  Report

  Evaluation of the early help services provided as a part of the Cluster Collaborative in Leeds

  This study, conducted by researchers from Leeds Beckett University, aimed to evaluate the services provided by one “Cluster” service offering early help to families in need of support in a deprived area of Leeds.
• read more about What are the characteristics and needs of mothers who access acute postpartum psychiatric care and have children’s social care involvement?
  Report

  What are the characteristics and needs of mothers who access acute postpartum psychiatric care and have children’s social care involvement?

  A study, conducted by researchers from King's College London, exploring the characteristics and needs of mothers who have been admitted to acute psychiatric care in the year after childbirth and have had children's social care involvement.
• read more about Kinship Connected: The feasibility of a pilot randomised controlled trial investigating outcomes for children in kinship care
  Report

  Kinship Connected: The feasibility of a pilot randomised controlled trial investigating outcomes for children in kinship care

  A feasibility study aiming to determine whether it is possible to run a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) of the Kinship Connected intervention with a focus on children’s mental health and wellbeing, and what the key design features of such a pilot would be.  
• read more about Future YOU
  Report

  Future YOU

  A mixed-methods pilot evaluation of Future YOU, a mentoring intervention for students with experience of children’s social care, focusing on social, emotional, digital and career skills.
• read more about Progress Mentor pilot evaluation
  Report

  Progress Mentor pilot evaluation

  A mixed-methods pilot evaluation in a sixth form college introducing a ‘progress mentor’ role to support students with experience of children’s social services with the transition to further education.
• read more about Towards early identification of mental health problems in children’s social care
  Report

  Towards early identification of mental health problems in children’s social care

  The purpose of this study is to advance the development of early identification tools for young people’s mental health (MH) problems in social care settings. 
• read more about The perceived impact of peer parental advocacy on child protection practice
  Report

  The perceived impact of peer parental advocacy on child protection practice

  A mixed-methods evaluation of peer parental advocacy (PPA) in the London Borough of Camden, a form of peer advocacy whereby parents with lived experience of child protection support other parents to navigate and engage with the process. The evaluation aims to understand the perceived impact of PPA on child protection practice.
• read more about Evaluation of Words for All
  Report

  Evaluation of Words for All

  An evaluation of the Words for All intervention that trains teachers to deliver vocabulary-focused educational enrichment programmes to improve the attainment of pupils who have or have had a social worker.
• read more about Safeguarding Partners’ Annual Reports Analysis 2020-21
  Report

  Safeguarding Partners’ Annual Reports Analysis 2020-21

  A descriptive analysis of a sample of safeguarding partners’ yearly reports from 2020-21.
• read more about LGTBQ+ young people’s experiences of residential social care in England
  Report

  LGTBQ+ young people’s experiences of residential social care in England

  An exploratory qualitative study focusing on the experiences and needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ+) young people living in residential care in England.
• read more about Creative Life Story Work
  Report

  Creative Life Story Work

  This evaluation of the Creative Life Stories Work programme was a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of the impact of All About Me creative experiences on child outcomes, a process evaluation to understand the experiences of those taking part through interviews and a survey, and a cost analysis.
• read more about Thriving Babies: Confident Parents
  Report

  Thriving Babies: Confident Parents

  A pilot evaluation of the Thriving Babies: Confident Parents (TBCP) programme, an initiative designed and delivered by Manchester City Council, in partnership with Barnardo’s and Home-Start. The programme aims to intervene early and support potentially vulnerable parents of babies and infants, both pre- and post-birth.
• read more about A review of the applications to Mother and Baby Units in prisons
  Report

  A review of the applications to Mother and Baby Units in prisons

  Thematic review of characteristics and family histories of women who applied to Mother and Baby Units (MBUs) in prisons.
• read more about No Recourse Early Action Model
  Report

  No Recourse Early Action Model

  A pilot evaluation of the No Recourse Early Action Model (NOREAM) programme, an early intervention approach aimed to support families with precarious immigration status and “No Recourse to Public Funds” (NRPF) immigration conditions.
• read more about We Can Talk About Domestic Abuse
  Report

  We Can Talk About Domestic Abuse

  A pilot evaluation of We Can Talk About Domestic Abuse, an initiative that aims to develop new ways of working to improve the experience of social care processes for those parents and children affected by domestic abuse.
• read more about Safeguarding practice for young people and adults who have experienced CSE
  Report

  Safeguarding practice for young people and adults who have experienced CSE

  A systematic review exploring safeguarding practices for young people and young adults with lived experience of child sexual exploitation before or during key life transitions.
• read more about Putting Kitbag to Work
  Report

  Putting Kitbag to Work

  A pilot study to evaluate the direct work resource Kitbag in a children’s social care setting
• read more about UK Social Work Practice in Safeguarding Disabled Children and Young People
  Report

  UK Social Work Practice in Safeguarding Disabled Children and Young People

  This systematic review aims to compile qualitative evidence to better comprehend the complexity of safeguarding concerns and improve understanding of how and why key welfare concerns disproportionately affect disabled children.
• read more about Pilot Evaluation of Affordable Maths Tuition
  Report

  Pilot Evaluation of Affordable Maths Tuition

  This pilot evaluation explores an initiative aimed at reducing the maths attainment gap of children who have ever had a care worker, through affordable one-to-one online tuition.
• read more about Pilot Evaluation of Transition Support
  Report

  Pilot Evaluation of Transition Support

  This pilot evaluation explores the implementation of Transition Support, an initiative developed and delivered by Hartlepool Borough Council to support vulnerable children with the transition between primary to secondary school.
• read more about Teenagers in Contact with Social Care: What Works to Keep Them Safe and Improve Their Outcomes
  Report

  Teenagers in Contact with Social Care: What Works to Keep Them Safe and Improve Their Outcomes

  A rapid review of the body of work looking at effective interventions for teenagers and young people in contact with children’s social care.
• read more about Commissioning secure children’s home placements in England
  Report

  Commissioning secure children’s home placements in England

  A thematic analysis of stakeholder views and recommendations on the commissioning of secure children’s home (SCH) places in England.
• read more about Understanding formal kinship care arrangements in England
  Report

  Understanding formal kinship care arrangements in England

  A descriptive analysis of national administrative data focussing on two specific types of kinship care arrangements: kinship foster care whilst in care and Special Guardianship Orders (SGO) granted to kin.
• read more about Understanding residential care for children in care in England
  Report

  Understanding residential care for children in care in England

  A descriptive analysis of national data to improve the current understanding of who the children living in residential care placements are, their journeys before and after entering residential care and their outcomes.
• read more about Understanding service provision for children in need in England
  Report

  Understanding service provision for children in need in England

  A research study exploring the support offered to children and their families who are subject to a Child in Need plan, across four local authorities.
• read more about What is the impact of policy interventions on child maltreatment and children’s social care outcomes? Evidence Matrix
  Report

  What is the impact of policy interventions on child maltreatment and children’s social care outcomes? Evidence Matrix

  This Evidence Matrix provides summaries of individual relevant studies covering the impact of policy interventions on child maltreatment and children’s social care outcomes.
• read more about Pilot Evaluation of Our Skills
  Report

  Pilot Evaluation of Our Skills

  A pilot review of Our Skills, a family literacy programme which aims to increase the educational attainment and life chances of children in Reception or Year 1 who have a social worker or who have had one in the last six years. Evaluation conducted by Centre for Evidence and Implementation and Bryson Purdon Social Research.
• read more about Improving the quality of decision making and risk assessment in children’s social care: a rapid evidence review
  Report

  Improving the quality of decision making and risk assessment in children’s social care: a rapid evidence review

  A rapid review of the body of work focussing on the quality of decision making and risk assessment for children referred to statutory children’s social care services.
• read more about Improving the chances of successful reunification for children who return home from care: A rapid evidence review
  Report

  Improving the chances of successful reunification for children who return home from care: A rapid evidence review

  A review of the existing evidence around improving the chances of successful reunification for children who return home from care to understand which services and interventions are successful, and the types of support included in these interventions.
• read more about Anti Racism Survey Report
  Report

  Anti Racism Survey Report

  This report, detailing the findings of a survey of nearly 2,000 registered social workers, highlights the toll racism is taking on social workers in England.
• read more about Are local authorities achieving effective market stewardship for children’s social care services?
  Report

  Are local authorities achieving effective market stewardship for children’s social care services?

  This report provides analysis of all up-to-date LA sufficiency strategies with a focus on identifying the main perceived challenges for LAs to meet their sufficiency duty; what actions are being undertaken or planned by LAs to improve commissioning outcomes; perceived negative consequences associated with using certain commissioning or market shaping approaches.
• read more about Placing an Advisory Teacher in Children’s Social Care – Pilot
  Report

  Placing an Advisory Teacher in Children’s Social Care – Pilot

  This pilot evaluation explores the implementation of Placing an Advisory Teacher in Children’s Social Care, delivered by Bath and North East Somerset local authority.
• read more about Happier, Healthier Professionals Phase Two: Randomised Controlled Trials and Pilots Conducted with Public-Sector Workforces
  Report

  Happier, Healthier Professionals Phase Two: Randomised Controlled Trials and Pilots Conducted with Public-Sector Workforces

  The Happier, Healthier Professionals (HHP) research programme aims to build evidence around what works for social worker well-being. In this phase of the programme, we conducted six studies - four RCTs and two pilot studies - with frontline workforces.
• read more about Ethnic minority social workers in the UK: workforce representation, welfare, retention and progression – A rapid evidence review synthesis
  Report

  Ethnic minority social workers in the UK: workforce representation, welfare, retention and progression – A rapid evidence review synthesis

  Ethnic minority social workers in the UK: workforce representation, welfare, retention and progression - A rapid evidence review synthesis
• read more about Outcomes for Black Children in Care: A rapid evidence review synthesis
  Report

  Outcomes for Black Children in Care: A rapid evidence review synthesis

  This Rapid Review explores the body of work already focussing on Black children in care and highlights existing evidence gaps
• read more about Behaviour Outreach Support Service Pilot
  Report

  Behaviour Outreach Support Service Pilot

  This pilot evaluation explores the implementation of the Behaviour Outreach Support Service (BOSS), delivered by Family Action.
• read more about COVID-19 Report: How local authorities have adapted social work practice
  Report

  COVID-19 Report: How local authorities have adapted social work practice

  The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown raised large concerns over how social workers would be able to still deliver the support needed for the families they work with. This COVID-19 Report looks at six of the initiatives rapidly implemented by local authorities' children's services to adapt their practice in response to Covid-19.
• read more about Strengthening Families, Protecting Children: No Wrong Door Pilot Evaluation Report
  Report

  Strengthening Families, Protecting Children: No Wrong Door Pilot Evaluation Report

  This pilot evaluation explores early implementation of the No Wrong Door model in Middlesbrough.
• read more about Springboard: Supporting care experienced young people with their next steps in further and higher education
  Report

  Springboard: Supporting care experienced young people with their next steps in further and higher education

  Findings from the Springboard pilot project, to understand if an intervention sending letters from peers in higher and further education to care experienced young people could be implemented successfully.
• read more about Learning from Innovation – Summaries of the Children’s Social Care Innovation Programme Round Two Evaluations
  Report

  Learning from Innovation – Summaries of the Children’s Social Care Innovation Programme Round Two Evaluations

  A summary of the findings and quality of the impact evaluations of 50 projects funded in the context of the Children’s Social Care Innovation Programme Round Two.
• read more about Our First Two Years
  Report

  Our First Two Years

  A summary of some of our work and key achievements during our first two years.
• read more about Strengthening Families, Protecting Children: Family Valued Pilot Evaluation Report
  Report

  Strengthening Families, Protecting Children: Family Valued Pilot Evaluation Report

  This pilot evaluation explores early implementation of the Family Valued Model in Darlington.
• read more about Evaluation of the Tiny Tots College Programme
  Report

  Evaluation of the Tiny Tots College Programme

  An evaluation of the Tiny Tots College Programme, delivered by Affinity 2020 Community Interest Company and Unravel - a programme developed to support care-experienced young parents (up to the age of 25) to improve attachment and parental knowledge/confidence.
• read more about A Randomised Controlled Trial of Schwartz Rounds
  Report

  A Randomised Controlled Trial of Schwartz Rounds

  An evaluation of the impact of Schwartz Rounds - a collaborative discussion group for staff, focusing on the social and emotional aspects of work - in reducing psychological distress in staff in ten children’s social care departments, conducted by CASCADE, Cardiff University.
• read more about Matching in Foster Care Systematic Review
  Report

  Matching in Foster Care Systematic Review

  A systematic review exploring the lived experience of matching children with foster families and examining the evidence on the outcomes of matching decisions.
• read more about Evaluation of the Worcestershire Children First Back to School Programme
  Report

  Evaluation of the Worcestershire Children First Back to School Programme

  An evaluation of the Worcestershire Children First Back to School Programme - a programme developed to support families who were struggling with the return to school in September 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• read more about A Randomised Controlled Trial of a ‘Checklist’ Intervention to Mitigate Confirmation Bias and Improve Forecasting Accuracy in Social Work
  Report

  A Randomised Controlled Trial of a ‘Checklist’ Intervention to Mitigate Confirmation Bias and Improve Forecasting Accuracy in Social Work

  This study examines the impact of a Checklist intervention through a randomised controlled trial, exploring the differences it made in relation to forecasting abilities and confirmation bias.
• read more about Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Policies, Programmes and Interventions that Improve Outcomes for Young People Leaving the Out-of-Home Care System
  Report

  Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Policies, Programmes and Interventions that Improve Outcomes for Young People Leaving the Out-of-Home Care System

  This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the effectiveness of policies, programmes and interventions which improve outcomes for care leavers transitioning into adult living arrangements.
• read more about Strengthening Families, Protecting Children: Family Safeguarding Pilot Evaluation Report
  Report

  Strengthening Families, Protecting Children: Family Safeguarding Pilot Evaluation Report

  This pilot evaluation explores early implementation of Family Safeguarding in Trailblazer Local Authority Cambridgeshire.
• read more about Analysis of Safeguarding Partners’ Yearly Reports 2019-2020
  Report

  Analysis of Safeguarding Partners’ Yearly Reports 2019-2020

  A report by WWCSC and the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel setting out the key findings from a compliance audit and ‘deep dive’ analysis of safeguarding partnerships’ yearly reports
• read more about Happier, Healthier Professionals: Small scale interventions to improve social worker well-being
  Report

  Happier, Healthier Professionals: Small scale interventions to improve social worker well-being

  The Happier, Healthier Professionals (HHP) research programme aims to build evidence around what works for social worker well-being. Three trials were developed in consultation with 35 local authorities across England, with trials launching between April and October 2019.
• read more about Supervision of Designated Safeguarding Leads in Primary Schools in Bolton
  Report

  Supervision of Designated Safeguarding Leads in Primary Schools in Bolton

  This study explores the impact of providing regular, individual supervision to Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) in primary schools in Bolton.
• read more about Impact of Signs of Safety on Outcomes for Children
  Report

  Impact of Signs of Safety on Outcomes for Children

  An analysis of the impact of Signs of Safety on outcomes for children and families in 9 local authorities that implemented Signs of Safety as part of the Department for Education’s Innovation Programme.
• read more about Searching for research studies in children’s social care: Some techniques and tools
  Report

  Searching for research studies in children’s social care: Some techniques and tools

  This report looks at five techniques that may help with a search for research studies in children’s social care.
• read more about Unlocking the Facts: Young people referred to Secure Children’s Homes
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  Unlocking the Facts: Young people referred to Secure Children’s Homes

  The report provides a picture of young people in England referred to secure accommodation for welfare reasons - their pathways; their placement in either a secure children's home or alternative accommodation; and their outcomes following referral.
• read more about Machine Learning in Children’s Services: Does it work?
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  Machine Learning in Children’s Services: Does it work?

  Summary Children’s Services departments have substantial amounts of data available to them. This, combined with advances in computing power and algorithms, opens up the possibility of using machine learning to identify children at risk – allowing social workers to use their time to work directly with families. However, to date it has been unclear just […]
• read more about Promoting the Retention, Mental Health, and Wellbeing of Child and Family Social Workers: A Systematic Review of Workforce Interventions
  Report

  Promoting the Retention, Mental Health, and Wellbeing of Child and Family Social Workers: A Systematic Review of Workforce Interventions

  A systematic review of interventions designed to improve the retention, mental health and wellbeing of child and family social workers.
• read more about Social Workers in Schools: An evaluation of a pilot in three local authorities in England
  Report

  Social Workers in Schools: An evaluation of a pilot in three local authorities in England

  Summary This evaluation looked at three pilot projects which embedded social workers in schools. It explored how working in this way might help reduce referrals, support schools, and reduce the need for children to enter care. Schools play a key part in keeping children safe, and tend to be a source of many referrals to […]
• read more about Care-Experienced Young People and Higher Education
  Report

  Care-Experienced Young People and Higher Education

  Summary Care-experienced young people in the United Kingdom are less likely to attend university than peers who have not been in care.  This study set out to find out more about this situation, particularly the expectations care experienced young people held towards university attendance during the years leading up to university application and how these […]
• read more about Devolved Budgets: An Evaluation of Pilots in Three Local Authorities in England
  Report

  Devolved Budgets: An Evaluation of Pilots in Three Local Authorities in England

  The findings of a pilot project evaluating the use of Devolved Budgets to safely reduce the need for children and young people to enter care in three Local Authorities in England
• read more about Outcomes-Focused Supervision: A Pilot and Feasibility Study
  Report

  Outcomes-Focused Supervision: A Pilot and Feasibility Study

  A pilot feasibility study exploring whether and how giving training to supervisors might work to make a positive difference for families, and to test the kinds of research design and outcome measures that would be useful in a larger-scale trial.
• read more about What Works in Education for Children who have had Social Workers
  Report

  What Works in Education for Children who have had Social Workers

  A re-analysis of data from 63 randomised controlled trials, funded by the EEF, to look at the impacts of educational interventions on the attainment of young people who have had a social worker. Published January 2020.
• read more about Impact Of Shared Decision-making Family Meetings On Children’s Out-of-home Care, Family Empowerment and Satisfaction
  Report

  Impact Of Shared Decision-making Family Meetings On Children’s Out-of-home Care, Family Empowerment and Satisfaction

  A review of the international evidence on the outcomes of shared decision-making family meetings.
• read more about Ethics Review of Machine Learning in Children’s Social Care
  Report

  Ethics Review of Machine Learning in Children’s Social Care

  SummaryThis report: Reviews the ethical criteria that would make the use of machine learning (ML) in children’s social care (CSC) justifiable and examines the problematic contexts in which such criteria may not be met; Identifies requirements and best practice for the responsible use of ML in CSC; Presents recommendations for a way forward.  Objectives The […]
• read more about Mapping the evidence about what works to safely reduce the entry of children and young people into statutory care: A systematic scoping review
  Report

  Mapping the evidence about what works to safely reduce the entry of children and young people into statutory care: A systematic scoping review

  Summary The increasing number of children and young people entering statutory care in the UK is a significant social, health and educational priority. Development of effective approaches to safely reduce this number remains a complex but critical issue. Despite an increase in interventions, evidence summaries are limited. This study is a scoping review; using systematic […]
• read more about Safely reducing the need for children to enter care
  Report

  Safely reducing the need for children to enter care

  Summary The number of children entering care has increased substantially over the last 20 years. In 1997 in England there were 50,900 children in care and this had risen to 72,670 in 2017, an increase of 43 per cent. This has led to considerable public expression of concern, including the publication of the recent Care […]
• read more about Signs of Safety: Findings from a mixed-methods systematic review focused on reducing the need for children to be in care
  Report

  Signs of Safety: Findings from a mixed-methods systematic review focused on reducing the need for children to be in care

  Summary Signs of Safety (SoS) is a framework for child protection practice. SoS aims to stabilise and strengthen families through working in collaboration to identify and harness their strengths and resources. This places relationships between social workers and parents at the centre of child protection. Signs of Safety: Findings from a mixed-methods systematic review focussed […]
• read more about Shared Decision-Making: What is good practice in delivering meetings?
  Report

  Shared Decision-Making: What is good practice in delivering meetings?

  Involving families meaningfully in decision-making to keep children safely at home Summary Shared decision-making is a feature of a number of service-delivery models, such as Family Group Conferencing, Family Group Decision-Making and Family Unity Meetings. Underpinning all these models is a commitment to ensuring that children and families are involved in decision-making about their own […]
• read more about How family budget change interventions affect children being in care
  Report

  How family budget change interventions affect children being in care

  Understanding how changes to family budgets can affect the likelihood of children being in care Summary This rapid evidence assessment aims to summarise the research evidence on how changing a family budget can affect the likelihood of children being in care. The evidence included two very different approaches – (1) interventions to increase the money […]
• read more about Overview of administrative data on children’s social care in England
  Report

  Overview of administrative data on children’s social care in England

  Providing an overview of the administrative data on children's social care that exists, how the data is currently used, and suggesting ways it could be used for future research