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• read more about Is evidence like a GPS?
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  Is evidence like a GPS?

  30 September 2019

  This month, I was at a conference and heard an analogy of machine learning – trying to use raw computer power and a lot of data to predict what’s likely to happen next – being described as like a GPS in your car. The speaker, a sceptic about the value of this approach, said they […]

  
• read more about We’re recruiting!
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  We’re recruiting!

  27 September 2019

  We are recruiting for three new roles to grow our team: Practice Development Manager This role will engage with social workers and the wider sector, supporting local authorities to develop evidence mindedness and evidence readiness, and play a leading role in our “Practice in Need of Evidence” programme, building capacity and evidence around promising practice […]

  
• read more about Could we be doing more to improve child protection plans?
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  Could we be doing more to improve child protection plans?

  9 September 2019

  Head of Practice, Anna Bacchoo, blogs about child protection plans and asks how they could be more effective. I have recently been thinking a lot about the plans we make when working with families, particularly child protection plans, and their impact and efficacy. These are a vital tool in safeguarding children and young people, but […]

  
• read more about “An integral part of how we communicate emotions” – How Walsall Council is using Schwartz Rounds
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  “An integral part of how we communicate emotions” – How Walsall Council is using Schwartz Rounds

  6 September 2019

  Guest blog by Isabel Vanderheeren, Transformation Lead, Children’s Services, Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council We in Walsall feel proud to be one of the six local authorities testing the use of Schwartz Rounds in Children’s Services. Schwartz Rounds provide a regular, structured forum for staff to discuss the emotional and social aspect of their work, and […]

  
• read more about Lots done, more to do
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  Lots done, more to do

  22 August 2019

  August has been a busy month for the team here at What Works for Children’s Social Care. We continued our visits to local authorities around the country and held the first meeting with our Young Advisors. Over the last two weeks we’ve also published the first interim reports from our two big primary research projects […]

  
• read more about Call for more participants in Schwartz Rounds evaluation
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  Call for more participants in Schwartz Rounds evaluation

  22 August 2019

  What Works for Children’s Social Care is delighted to announce an expansion of the on-going project evaluating the use of Schwartz Rounds in children’s social care. The project will be expanded to six additional local authorities or trusts, and the application process is now open. Schwartz Rounds provide a regular, structured forum for all staff […]

  
• read more about We’re recruiting!
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  We’re recruiting!

  20 August 2019

  WWCSC is looking for a Research Assistant. This role will provide support to our ambitious research programme, which spans randomised controlled trials in workforce wellbeing, evaluations of whole system changes, machine learning, and much more. The Research Assistant will have a crucial role in ensuring the smooth implementation and running of trials and evaluations run […]

  
• read more about Exploring budgets in children’s social care
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  Exploring budgets in children’s social care

  16 August 2019

  Finances are important. The role that poverty plays in family life, and in creating obstacles to effective parenting, has been highlighted by practitioners and is increasingly recognised by academic research in social work. The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) is launching an anti-poverty practice guide in early September to help social workers to put […]

  
• read more about Interim results from Devolved Budgets pilots
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  Interim results from Devolved Budgets pilots

  15 August 2019

  A new pilot project devolving budgets to social workers to allow them to find creative solutions to family problems has been broadly viewed as popular by practitioners, despite some initial issues. The pilots in three local authorities are investigating whether devolved budgets can help safely reduce the likelihood of children and young people being in […]

  
• read more about Announcing our local authority partners for FGC and FDAC
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  Announcing our local authority partners for FGC and FDAC

  9 August 2019

  Along with the Department for Education, we are delighted to announce our local authority partners for the first two projects launched under the Supporting Families: Investing in Practice programme After an open application process and thorough assessment we are delighted to be able to announce over 40 local authority partners from across the country. A […]

  
• read more about First look reports published – social workers in schools
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  First look reports published – social workers in schools

  8 August 2019

  Today we’re really pleased to be publishing three research reports, which provide the first look at findings from projects placing social workers in schools in three local authorities – Stockport, Lambeth and Southampton. All three projects see social workers conducting statutory work in the schools they’re based in, which include mainstream and specialist schools. These […]

  
• read more about New project placing social worker in schools shows early signs of promise
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  New project placing social worker in schools shows early signs of promise

  8 August 2019

  A new pilot project placing social workers in schools in three local authorities in England is showing early signs of improving inter-agency working and building more collaborative relationships with children, young people and families. What Works for Children’s Social Care (formerly the What Works Centre for Children’s Social Care), in association with its research partners […]