Listing of research projects and reports

• read more about Understanding how advocacy services support care-experienced young people to participate in decision-making
  Project

  Understanding how advocacy services support care-experienced young people to participate in decision-making

  An exploratory study of an advocacy service for children and young people, provided as part of the children’s service within a large local authority in England, looking at how this service supports care-experienced young people to participate in decision-making.
• read more about Virtual and digital interventions rapid review
  Project

  Virtual and digital interventions rapid review

  A rapid evidence review to identify virtual and digital parenting interventions.
• read more about Strengthening Knowledge and Awareness in Family Services of Domestic Abuse (SKAFADA)   
  Project

  Strengthening Knowledge and Awareness in Family Services of Domestic Abuse (SKAFADA)   

  A case study that aims to provide evidence about the knowledge, understanding, and skills of the Early Help and Family Support workforces in England in respect of domestic abuse. 
• 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 CAMHS Referrals and Outcomes for Adolescents and Children with Social Workers (COACHES) Study 
  Project

  CAMHS Referrals and Outcomes for Adolescents and Children with Social Workers (COACHES) Study 

  A mixed methods study, investigating the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) journey for young people with a social worker across two NHS trusts.
• read more about Social Workers in Schools trial
  Report

  Social Workers in Schools trial

  An evaluation of school-based work
• read more about ISAFE – Improving Safeguarding through Audited Father-Engagement
  Project

  ISAFE – Improving Safeguarding through Audited Father-Engagement

  WWEICSC have commissioned Ipsos UK to conduct a full-scale randomised controlled trial of the Improving Safeguarding through Audited Father-Engagement (ISAFE) training programme which aims to improve local authority children’s service’s engagement with fathers.
• 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 Let’s Connect Fostering Communities
  Project

  Let’s Connect Fostering Communities

  This protocol summarises plans for a pilot RCT study of Let's Connect, an intervention to improve mental health and wellbeing of foster and kinship families.
• read more about Partnership for Change
  Project

  Partnership for Change

  This protocol is a randomised controlled trial of an intervention to improve the mental health of children with a social worker.
• 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 Staying Close: feasibility study
  Project

  Staying Close: feasibility study

  This protocol summarises plans for a feasibility study of the Staying Close programme, which 15 local (LAs) authorities received funding for in 2022-23.
• 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 Domestic abuse interventions in children’s social care
  Project

  Domestic abuse interventions in children’s social care

  This protocol is for the domestic abuse interventions in children’s social care feasibility study, an exploratory study helping to refine domestic abuse interventions linked to children's outcomes.
• 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 What Works for Kinship Care and Special Guardianship Orders
  Project

  What Works for Kinship Care and Special Guardianship Orders

  What Works for Kinship Care and Special Guardianship Orders will evaluate the impact of local authority policies and interventions to identify and provide support to Kinship Foster Carers and Special Guardians on both the number of such placements and children’s outcomes.
• 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 Kinship care: A scoping study for a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) of whether Kinship Connected improves children and young people’s mental health outcomes
  Project

  Kinship care: A scoping study for a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) of whether Kinship Connected improves children and young people’s mental health outcomes

  This protocol is for the Kinship Connected project, an exploratory study to determine under what conditions a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) of the intervention is feasible.
• 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 School non-attendance by children with a social worker in the UK: a rapid review of extent, risk factors and interventions
  Project

  School non-attendance by children with a social worker in the UK: a rapid review of extent, risk factors and interventions

  This protocol is for a rapid review of extent, risk factors and interventions related to school non-attendance by children with a social worker in the UK.
• read more about Care Leavers Emotional Wellbeing Study
  Project

  Care Leavers Emotional Wellbeing Study

  This protocol is for the Care Leaver Emotional Wellbeing project, an exploratory study focusing on the services available to support young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing as they leave care.
• 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 Systematic Review: Experiences with Mental Health Provision for Care-Experienced Young People in the UK
  Project

  Systematic Review: Experiences with Mental Health Provision for Care-Experienced Young People in the UK

  This review will identify and summarise the experiences with the implementation of mental health services for CEYP in the UK, drawing upon qualitative (and if relevant, quantitative) research findings.
• read more about Systematic Review: The effectiveness of policies, programmes or interventions to improve mental health outcomes for care-experienced young people
  Project

  Systematic Review: The effectiveness of policies, programmes or interventions to improve mental health outcomes for care-experienced young people

  This review will identify programs and interventions that seek to improve mental health outcomes amongst CEYP that have been tested using robust controlled methods.
• read more about Systematic Review: Domestic Abuse Interventions delivered to Children about whom there are Child Protection Concerns
  Project

  Systematic Review: Domestic Abuse Interventions delivered to Children about whom there are Child Protection Concerns

  What Works in Children’s Social Care has commissioned a systematic review of interventions for children exposed to DA and who are in receipt of Children’s Social Care (CSC) services because of child protection concerns.
• 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 Randomised Controlled Trial of a LGBTQ+ Training Programme for Social Workers
  Project

  Randomised Controlled Trial of a LGBTQ+ Training Programme for Social Workers

  The University of Birmingham is conducting a Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) of a LGBTQ+ training programme for social workers as part of the LYPSA (LGBTQ+ Young People in Social Care) Study, aiming to improve the attitudes, knowledge and skills of social work staff.
• read more about Supervising Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) in primary and secondary schools: focus on child sexual abuse
  Project

  Supervising Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) in primary and secondary schools: focus on child sexual abuse

  This trial aims to establish the impact of providing a supervising social worker to provide supervision to Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) in primary and secondary schools with a specific focus on child sexual abuse (CSA), through the provision of specific training in this area.
• read more about Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) group supervision in secondary schools
  Project

  Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) group supervision in secondary schools

  This trial aims to establish the impact of providing a designated social worker to supervise Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) in secondary schools, using a group supervision model.
• read more about Supervising Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) in primary schools
  Project

  Supervising Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) in primary schools

  This trial aims to establish the impact of providing a designated social worker to supervise Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) in primary schools.
• 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 Evaluation of Early Help Services provided as part of the Cluster Collaborative in Leeds
  Project

  Evaluation of Early Help Services provided as part of the Cluster Collaborative in Leeds

  This study is a mixed-method pilot evaluation of the Cluster Collaborative model in one local authority, which provides early help services to local families in need of support.
• read more about Future YOU Pilot Evaluation
  Project

  Future YOU Pilot Evaluation

  Future YOU is an intervention that provides mentor support to young people with experience of social care at HSDC (Havant and South Downs College).
• read more about Progress Mentor Pilot Evaluation
  Project

  Progress Mentor Pilot Evaluation

  The Progress Mentor programme is an intervention to support young people with experience of social care with the goal of maximising their college experience and in the long-term improve their overall wellbeing, post-college destination and housing situation.
• read more about Children in Kinship Care
  Project

  Children in Kinship Care

  This project aims to improve the understanding of kinship care through analysis of administrative data of all English local authorities. The work will provide quantitative evidence regarding the use of kinship foster care and special guardianship orders (SGOs) both nationally and across local authorities.
• read more about Children living in Residential Care
  Project

  Children living in Residential Care

  This analysis aims to provide a quantitative national overview of the characteristics and experiences of children living in residential care, their journeys into and out of residential care placements and their outcomes compared to children in other types of care.
• 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 Towards early identification of mental health problems in children’s social care
  Project

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

  There are high levels of mental health (MH) need in children’s social care settings. However, the data to estimate the actual level of need is very poor and existing figures are likely to be vast underestimates. In particular, poor integration of information held about young people makes it difficult to accurately estimate MH need in this population. 
• read more about Exploring characteristics, needs, and service use of mothers diagnosed with severe perinatal mental health difficulties and their infants in contact with CSC
  Project

  Exploring characteristics, needs, and service use of mothers diagnosed with severe perinatal mental health difficulties and their infants in contact with CSC

  This project is a secondary quantitative analysis of data collected on mother-infant dyads where the mother was admitted to acute psychiatric care in England and Wales in the year after childbirth, including where there was children’s social services involvement at the time of their acute episode. 
• read more about Looked-after children: impact of the Adoption Support Fund and mental wellbeing in British adoptive families
  Project

  Looked-after children: impact of the Adoption Support Fund and mental wellbeing in British adoptive families

  This project aims to evaluate a key policy rolled out across all 152 local authorities in England in 2015, known as the Adoptive Support Fund (ASF), on the mental health of adopted children. The ASF aims to increase access to therapeutic post-adoption support for adoptive families.
• read more about The perceived impact of Peer Parental Advocacy on child protection practice: A pilot evaluation
  Project

  The perceived impact of Peer Parental Advocacy on child protection practice: A pilot evaluation

  PPA aims to support parents who are engaged with the child protection process, through advice and advocacy, and helps them play a meaningful role in decision making about their children. This study will be a mixed-method pilot evaluation of PPA in child protection, in one local authority, the London Borough of Camden.
• 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 Rapid Review: The experiences of teenagers in care
  Project

  Rapid Review: The experiences of teenagers in care

  As part of work undertaken to support the Independent Review into Children’s Social Care, WWCSC has commissioned a brief evidence review into the experiences of teenagers in care to capture a growing evidence base and inform the recommendations of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care. 
• read more about Improving the chances of successful reunification for children who return home from care: a rapid evidence review
  Project

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

  What Works for Children’s Social Care (WWCSC) has commissioned a brief evidence review into reunification to capture a growing evidence base and inform the recommendations of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care. 
• read more about Research Learning Communities: Pilot Evaluation
  Project

  Research Learning Communities: Pilot Evaluation

  WWCSC and Ipsos MORI are conducting a pilot evaluation of Research Learning Communities, delivered by Durham University, which aims to improve the Literacy and Mathematics outcomes of Children in Need (CiN) and Looked After Children (LAC) in years 5 and 6.
• 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 LGBTQ+ Young People in Residential Care
  Project

  LGBTQ+ Young People in Residential Care

  WWCSC and the University of Birmingham are conducting a qualitative study examining the experiences of LGBTQ+ young people in residential care.
• read more about A pilot evaluation of Lewisham’s Prevent-Protect-Repair programme
  Project

  A pilot evaluation of Lewisham’s Prevent-Protect-Repair programme

  A feasibility study of Lewisham's Prevent-Protect-Repair (PPR) programme. PPR aims to build the skills, confidence and capacity of children’s social care teams in Lewisham to work with families affected by domestic abuse that are on child protection plans. This includes raising awareness for domestic abuse, expanding training for social workers in key interventions, developing a best-practice toolkit and increasing access to specialist therapeutic support. 
• 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 Empowering Parents and Professionals Using Video Interaction Guidance: A Randomised Controlled Trial
  Project

  Empowering Parents and Professionals Using Video Interaction Guidance: A Randomised Controlled Trial

  IFF Research and Manchester Metropolitan University are conducting a randomised controlled trial of the 'Empowering Parents and Professionals Using Video Interaction Guidance' programme, delivered by Babies1st in four Local Authorities in England.
• 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 Thriving Babies: A Pilot Evaluation
  Project

  Thriving Babies: A Pilot Evaluation

  WWCSC and Oxford Brookes University are conducting a pilot evaluation of the Thriving Babies project in Manchester, which aims to intervene and provide support at an early stage for potential vulnerable parents of babies and infants pre and post birth.
• 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 Happier, Healthier Professional: Ministry of Defence Inspiring the Next Generation
  Project

  Happier, Healthier Professional: Ministry of Defence Inspiring the Next Generation

  WWCSC are conducting a randomised controlled trial in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) Defence Intelligence to investigate the effectiveness of a wellbeing intervention delivered to staff, in the form of a series of eight weekly email messages that emphasise the shared experiences, challenges and rewarding nature of their work.
• 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 The Supporting Parents Project: a randomised controlled trial of the Lighthouse Parenting Programme
  Project

  The Supporting Parents Project: a randomised controlled trial of the Lighthouse Parenting Programme

  WWCSC are conducting a randomised controlled trial (RCT) and implementation process study of The Supporting Parents Project: Lighthouse Parenting Programme, delivered by Bath and North-East Somerset and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, and evaluated by The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families.
• read more about Rapid Review: The quality of decision making and risk assessment in children’s social care
  Project

  Rapid Review: The quality of decision making and risk assessment in children’s social care

  What Works for Children’s Social Care has commissioned a brief evidence review into the quality of risk assessment and decision-making in children’s social care and child protection.
• read more about My View: a Randomised Controlled Trial
  Project

  My View: a Randomised Controlled Trial

  WWCSC are conducting a randomised controlled trial and evaluation of the My View therapeutic intervention for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, delivered by the British Refugee Council, and evaluated by Ipsos MORI and the Centre for Evidence and Implementation (CEI).
• read more about Happier Healthier Professionals – Increasing Diversity in Social Work Management
  Project

  Happier Healthier Professionals – Increasing Diversity in Social Work Management

  This online study aims to understand the effectiveness of two interventions designed to reduce bias in the evaluation of candidates for managerial roles within Children's Services. We make use of fictitious applications and ask participants to evaluate the strength of candidates, randomising participants to one of two evaluation conditions to determine firstly whether any racial bias is present in responses, and secondly whether the mode of evaluation has any impact on the bias in responses.
• 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 Happier, Healthier Professionals: Symbolic Awards (Beneficiaries)
  Project

  Happier, Healthier Professionals: Symbolic Awards (Beneficiaries)

  WWCSC are conducting a randomised controlled trial across 8 Local Authority sites to test the effectiveness on wellbeing of a Symbolic Awards intervention, in the form of messages of gratitude, delivered to social workers.
• 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 Rapid review of placement outcomes of Black children in out of home care, compared to children from other ethnic groups in out of home care
  Project

  Rapid review of placement outcomes of Black children in out of home care, compared to children from other ethnic groups in out of home care

  WWCSC are conducting a rapid review to better understand the existing literature around placement outcomes of Black children in care, and whether this differs from the placement outcomes of children from other ethnic groups in care in the UK.
• read more about Putting Kitbags to Work: an implementation and process evaluation
  Project

  Putting Kitbags to Work: an implementation and process evaluation

  WWCSC is conducting an evaluation of the Kitbag programme.
• read more about Pilot Evaluation of Tiny Tots College
  Project

  Pilot Evaluation of Tiny Tots College

  WWCSC are conducting a pilot evaluation of Affinity and Unravel's 'Tiny Tots College' programme.
• read more about No Recourse to Early Action Model: A Pilot Evaluation
  Project

  No Recourse to Early Action Model: A Pilot Evaluation

  The Centre for Evidence and Implementation (CEI) are conducting a pilot evaluation of Hackney London Borough Council's 'No Recourse to Early Action Model' programme.
• read more about We Can Talk About Domestic Abuse: A Pilot Evaluation
  Project

  We Can Talk About Domestic Abuse: A Pilot Evaluation

  The Policy Evaluation and Research Unit (PERU) at Manchester Metropolitan University are conducting a pilot evaluation of Wirral Council's 'We Can Talk About Domestic Abuse' programme
• read more about Springboard: Widening Participation in Higher and Further Education for Young People in Care
  Project

  Springboard: Widening Participation in Higher and Further Education for Young People in Care

  Project Springboard aims to to help young people with care experience see their social identity as compatible with college or university, and to help them feel more supported and informed in their decision-making about college or university.
• read more about Supervision for Designated Safeguarding Leads Scale-up
  Project

  Supervision for Designated Safeguarding Leads Scale-up

  This trial aims to establish the impact of providing a designated social worker to supervise Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) in secondary schools in Greater Manchester.
• read more about Evaluation of Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDAC)
  Project

  Evaluation of Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDAC)

  An impact evaluation of Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDAC), led by NatCen Social Research.
• 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 A systematic review on safeguarding young people who have experienced child sexual exploitation (CSE) during transitions to adult services
  Project

  A systematic review on safeguarding young people who have experienced child sexual exploitation (CSE) during transitions to adult services

  Authors at Nottingham Trent University aim to identify the difficulties that children and young people, who have been vulnerable to/have experienced child sexual abuse, experience in transitioning from child to adult services.
• read more about A Systematic Review on safeguarding disabled children and young people
  Project

  A Systematic Review on safeguarding disabled children and young people

  A consortium from the universities of Portsmouth, Nottingham Trent, Ann Croft Trust and the University of East Anglia will undertake a review to understand why children with a disability are significantly more at risk of abuse than their peers, and to understand why they are not adequately identified by child care services. The review seeks to understand what factors can improve the outcomes for children with a disability, and if any innovative models of social care are directly applicable to improving the outcomes of children with a disability.
• read more about Pilot Evaluation of Our Skills
  Project

  Pilot Evaluation of Our Skills

  Our Skills is 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.
• read more about Flexitime for Social Workers
  Project

  Flexitime for Social Workers

  This pilot project aims to understand how a flexible working model of compressed hours could be effectively implemented for Local Authorities, and to generate evidence of promise that it might be effective in improving social workers’ work-life balance, autonomy and productivity.
• read more about Creative Mentoring Trial Evaluation
  Project

  Creative Mentoring Trial Evaluation

  This project aims to evaluate the impact of 1:1 Creative Mentoring sessions for young people aged 15-18.
• read more about Placing an advisory teacher in Children’s Social Care Pilot
  Project

  Placing an advisory teacher in Children’s Social Care Pilot

  This study is evaluating the Placing an advisory teacher in Children’s Social Care intervention, delivered by Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) Virtual School.
• read more about Transition Support Pilot
  Project

  Transition Support Pilot

  This study is evaluating the Transition Support Programme, developed and delivered by Hartlepool Borough Council.
• read more about Behaviour Outreach Support Service Pilot
  Project

  Behaviour Outreach Support Service Pilot

  The study is evaluating the Behaviour Outreach Support Service (BOSS), delivered by Family Action.
• 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 Signs of Potential: Words for All
  Project

  Signs of Potential: Words for All

  An evaluation of the Words for All (WfA) intervention, delivered by Whole Education. WfA 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 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 Family Drug and Alcohol Court – Service Engagement Evaluation
  Project

  Family Drug and Alcohol Court – Service Engagement Evaluation

  A Randomised Controlled Trial of an intervention designed to improve parental engagement with the Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) services and process.
• read more about Affordable Maths Tuition
  Project

  Affordable Maths Tuition

  Evaluating the impact of Affordable Maths Tuition on children who have had a social worker on Key Stage 2 maths attainment
• read more about Unlocking the Facts: Young people referred to Secure Children’s Homes
  Report

  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 Social Workers in School Scale-up
  Project

  Social Workers in School Scale-up

  An evaluation which explores the impact of placing social workers in schools on children's social care outcomes and educational outcomes
• read more about Happier Healthier Professionals: Social Workers Inspiring Next Generation
  Project

  Happier Healthier Professionals: Social Workers Inspiring Next Generation

  This project aims to emphasise the shared experiences, challenges and rewarding nature of social work, promoting a sense of professional identity among student and newly qualified social workers.
• read more about Machine Learning in Children’s Services: Does it work?
  Report

  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 Family Drug and Alcohol Court – Post-Proceedings Support Pilot
  Project

  Family Drug and Alcohol Court – Post-Proceedings Support Pilot

  A pilot evaluation of the post-proceedings support offered as part of Gloucestershire's Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC).
• read more about Family Drug and Alcohol Court – Parent Mentoring Pilot
  Project

  Family Drug and Alcohol Court – Parent Mentoring Pilot

  A pilot implementation evaluation of the parent mentoring component of the Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDAC).
• 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 Work Health Check
  Project

  Social Work Health Check

  The Social Work Health Check is a survey of social workers across England to understand the practice conditions and working environment of the social work workforce. The survey is based on the Local Government Association (LGA)’s employer standards, a model of workplace wellbeing developed by What Works for Wellbeing, and input from principal social workers (PSWs).
• 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 Family Valued Model – Trial Evaluation
  Project

  Family Valued Model – Trial Evaluation

  Evaluation of the Family Valued Model as part of the Department for Education’s Strengthening Families, Protecting Children (SFPC) programme.
• read more about Family Safeguarding Model – Trial Evaluation
  Project

  Family Safeguarding Model – Trial Evaluation

  Evaluation of the Family Safeguarding Model as part of the Department for Education’s Strengthening Families, Protecting Children (SFPC) programme.
• read more about No Wrong Door Model – Trial Evaluation
  Project

  No Wrong Door Model – Trial Evaluation

  Evaluation of the No Wrong Door Model as part of the Department for Education’s Strengthening Families, Protecting Children (SFPC) programme.
• 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 Evaluation of Family Group Conferences at pre-proceedings stage
  Project

  Evaluation of Family Group Conferences at pre-proceedings stage

  Evaluation of Family Group Conferences at pre-proceedings stage, as part of the Department for Education's Supporting Families: Investing in Practice programme
• read more about Evaluation of the Mockingbird programme
  Project

  Evaluation of the Mockingbird programme

  Evaluation of The Fostering Network’s Mockingbird programme, as part of the Department for Education's Supporting Families: Investing in Practice programme
• 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
• read more about No Wrong Door Pilot
  Project

  No Wrong Door Pilot

  Pilot Evaluation of No Wrong Door in Middlesbrough as part of the Department for Education’s Strengthening Families, Protecting Children (SFPC) programme
• read more about Family Valued Model Pilot
  Project

  Family Valued Model Pilot

  Pilot Evaluation of the Family Valued Model in Darlington as part of the Department for Education’s Strengthening Families, Protecting Children (SFPC) programme.
• read more about Supporting Good Judgement in Social Work
  Project

  Supporting Good Judgement in Social Work

  Testing online interventions designed to improve social workers' accuracy in forecasting the outcomes from case summaries.