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What Works for Children’s Social Care (WWCSC) and the Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) merged in December 2022 and are now Foundations, the What Works Centre for Children & Families. You can visit our new website here. 

This website will remain live for now but is not being updated. Here you can find research and work we carried out as WWCSC before the new organisation was formally launched in June 2023.

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  • read more about WWCSC to fund four new systematic reviews in children’s social care
    News

    WWCSC to fund four new systematic reviews in children’s social care

    30 June 2020
    What Works for Children’s Social Care is delighted to announce funding for four new systematic reviews, to add to the knowledge base in children’s social care. The projects were selected to fill gaps identified in current literature and research, and to address some of the topics identified by the participants in our priority setting exercise, […]
  • read more about We need to be mindful of the risks and wider impact of placing social workers in schools
    Blog

    We need to be mindful of the risks and wider impact of placing social workers in schools

    16 June 2020
    In a guest blog, Tina Russell, Director of Social Care & Safeguarding at Worcestershire Children First, outlines her concerns and discusses the issues to be addressed in order to ensure placing social workers in schools has positive outcomes for children, families, schools, social workers and children's social care departments.
  • read more about We’re recruiting!
    News

    We’re recruiting!

    11 June 2020
    Team Administrator What Works for Children’s Social Care is recruiting a Team Administrator to support the organisation to be as effective and efficient as possible. We are looking for a highly organised and adaptable individual with a helpful and friendly demeanor. For more information please see here. Deadline: 12pm 26th June 2020
  • read more about What Works and the Principal Social Worker Network join forces
    Blog

    What Works and the Principal Social Worker Network join forces

    29 May 2020
    We're delighted to share how we'll be partnering with the Principal Social Worker Network in the coming months to support those working in children's social care
  • read more about Social Workers in Schools – results, and what’s next?
    Blog

    Social Workers in Schools – results, and what’s next?

    26 May 2020
    In his latest blog, Chief Executive Michael Sanders discusses the findings of our pilot studies placing social workers in schools, and the plan to extend this study to more schools around the country.
  • read more about New funding announced to evaluate school-based interventions to improve outcomes for children and young people with social workers
    News

    New funding announced to evaluate school-based interventions to improve outcomes for children and young people with social workers

    26 May 2020
    The Department for Education announced £9.9 million to fund research by What Works for Children’s Social Care to improve the lives of children and young people in England who have had a social worker. The funding will support putting social workers in 80 schools, across ten local authorities in England; providing social worker supervision to Designated Safeguarding Leads in secondary schools in Greater Manchester; and evaluating interventions to close the educational attainment gap between young people who have had a social worker and their peers.
  • read more about Pilot projects placing social workers in schools show promise, and will be expanded to 80 new schools
    News

    Pilot projects placing social workers in schools show promise, and will be expanded to 80 new schools

    26 May 2020
    Pilots placing social workers into 20 schools across Lambeth, Southampton, and Stockport, found indicative evidence that they reduced intervention into family life overall, and allowed social workers to build stronger relationships with both teachers and the young people and families they worked with.
  • read more about Are we doing enough to support care experienced young people in higher education?
    Blog

    Are we doing enough to support care experienced young people in higher education?

    19 May 2020
    Following the release of our new report on care experienced young people and higher education, Michael Sanders wonders whether we are doing enough to support these young care leavers
  • read more about We’re recruiting!
    News

    We’re recruiting!

    19 May 2020
    Director of Operations What Works for Children’s Social Care are looking for a new Director of Operations to support in shaping the future strategy and direction of the organisation as well as embed and oversee the operational processes. For more information and how to apply. Deadline: 12pm 8th June 2020.
  • read more about Expectations for higher education attendance are lower for care experienced young people than their peers, and the gap widens as children get older
    News

    Expectations for higher education attendance are lower for care experienced young people than their peers, and the gap widens as children get older

    18 May 2020
    New research finds that expectations for higher education attendance are lower for care experienced young people than their peers, and the gap widens as children get older. The report also explores the factors that influence expectations and attendance.
  • read more about What matters for What Works?
    Blog

    What matters for What Works?

    30 April 2020
    Louise Jones reflects on the recent priority setting exercise undertaken by WWCSC, and it's aim to ensure the Centre continues to conduct research that is impactful and valuable for all in this complex sector.
  • read more about New (fiscal) year, new us
    Blog

    New (fiscal) year, new us

    30 April 2020
    The new financial year marks a new beginning for What Works for Children's Social Care as an independent charity. In his blog, Michael Sanders reflects on this and our other new findings.