briefing paper

Preventing loneliness and social isolation: interventions and outcomes

This is one in a series of research briefings about preventive care and support for adults.
Prevention is broadly defined to include a wide range of services that:
• promote independence
• prevent or delay the deterioration of wellbeing resulting from ageing, illness or disability
• delay the need for more costly and intensive services.

Time for change: an evaluation of an intensive support service for young women at high risk of secure care or custody

Briefing that presents key findings of research which evaluated the Time for Change Young Women’s Project, a community-based intensive support service for young women and girls aged 14 to 17 years at high risk of being drawn into secure care and custodial detention.

SCIE research briefing 41: factors that promote and hinder joint and integrated working between health and social care services

This briefing updates a previous systematic review by Cameron and Lart that reported on the factors that promote and hinder joint working between health and social care services. Given their prominence in terms of policy debates about joint and integrated working, the briefing focuses on jointly-organised services for older people and people with mental health problems in the UK only. Briefing published by Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) in May 2012. Review date is May 2015.

Sustainable health and social care: a briefing for commissioners and health and wellbeing boards (Adults' Services SCIE Report 59)

Briefing that examines issues such as the role of health and wellbeing boards and commissioners; the impact of climate change; integration; community and personalisation; leadership and reputation; and risk management and business continuity.

At a glance 60: preventing loneliness and social isolation among older people

This At a glance briefing explains the importance of tackling social isolation and loneliness, particularly among older people. It highlights the adverse effects of feeling isolated and describes a number of services that have been found to help reduce the problem. The briefing is based on SCIE’s review of research evidence, published in Research briefing 39: preventing loneliness and social isolation: interventions and outcomes.

At a glance 58: therapeutic approaches to social work in residential child care settings

Following a regional review of residential child care in 2007, the five health and social care trusts in Northern Ireland have introduced ‘therapeutic approaches’ in a number of children’s homes, and in the regional secure units, with the aim of improving staff skills and outcomes for young people. This At a glance briefing summarises an evaluation of the approaches conducted between May 2010 and February 2012. The full details can be found in SCIE Report 58 (Macdonald et al, 2012). Summary published by Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) in May 2012.

Employment key to social mobility

Research demonstrates a negative relationship between worklessness and outcomes for children over and above what would be expected due to other factors, such as material deprivation and low income. This underlines the importance of supporting parents to move into the labour market.

This briefing looks at the importance of employment to social mobility.