decision making

Early intervention: decision-making in local authority children's services

Action for Children commissioned the Social Care Institute for Excellence to undertake a study of local authority decision-making in respect of long-term decision making and early intervention services. In particular, the study sought to gain a better understanding of the factors that facilitate and hinder delivery of improved outcomes for children and families over the longer-term, working on the basis that long-term planning and early intervention are inextricably linked.

SCIE report 65: early intervention: decision-making in local authority children’s services

This is a study of local authority decision-making in respect to long-term decision making and early intervention services. The study seeks to gain a better understanding of the factors that facilitate and hinder delivery of improved outcomes for children and families over the longer-term. This report synthesises the data gathered from: a literature review; 30 telephone interviews with senior officers and members in local authorities in England; and feedback from 49 subject matter experts attending five regional events.

Promoting positive well-being for children: a report for decision-makers in parliament, central government and local areas

Report that highlights six priorities for improving the subjective well-being of our children. It sets out each priority and explains why they all matter for children and families.

It makes a compelling case for understanding and measuring the subjective well-being of children, and gives advice for decision-makers in formulating and evaluating the impact of policy on children’s well-being.

SCIE report 51: the ethics of sustainable health and social care - towards a framework for decision-making

Report that breaks new ground in examining the ethical challenges potentially posed by factoring environmental outcomes into different levels of health and social care decision-making, including resource allocation and treatments.

The environmental and climate change ethics literatures are considered in conjunction with health and social care ethical principles in order to inform the development of a new sustainable health and social care ethical framework.

Decision-making and social work in Scotland: the role of evidence and practice wisdom

Report that presents the results of a small qualitative study undertaken between February and March 2011. It considers the role of evidence in decision making around risk in social work and what affects this process.

The research aims to shed light on the relationship between evidence and practice wisdom (as an evidence type or integrating vehicle) or professional judgement, and how this relationship shapes decision making.

Listen to what I want : the potential impact of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) on major life decisions by people with learning disabilities

This document is a Report for the Social Care Institute for Excellence. It was published by Norah Fry Research Centre at the University of Bristol in July 2008. ‘Listen to what I want’ (Jan-May 2008) was a short study of major decisions in the lives of 20 people with learning disabilities, from their point of view. The overall purpose was to learn more about the potential impact of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) with people with learning disabilities.

Decision-making processes

This resource explores: how staff, residents and relatives view of risk and risk-taking will influence decisions about restraint; how making good decisions about restraint is more likely if care staff are positive, show teamwork, keep good records, are aware of the alternatives to restraint and have some basic knowledge of the law on restraint; and how a careful five-step process can help when making difficult decisions about restraint: observe, do some detective work, come to a collective decision, implement and review the plan.