research and evaluation

Public knowledge of and attitudes to social work in Scotland

In June 2004, Scottish Ministers initiated the first fundamental review of Social Work since the Social Work (Scotland) Act in 1968.

To inform the work of the review, the Scottish Executive Education Department ( SEED) commissioned MORI Scotland to conduct a programme of public opinion research. The over-arching aim of the programme of public opinion research described in this report was to provide the 21 st Century Social Work Review Group with an understanding of public knowledge of, and attitudes towards, social workers and social work services.

SCIE Research resource 03: SCIE Systematic mapping guidance (Draft)

Systematic mapping is a transparent technique for describing research literature on a broad topic. It allows us to take stock of the research available in any given area of social care, so that we can decide how to develop it. A map provides both a searchable database for researchers and policy makers, and a stand-alone piece of work describing the literature on that topic.

Review of the Scottish Drugs Forum

The overall aim of this review was to establish the effectiveness of SDF in delivering its aims and objectives, in particular the extent to which it provides value for money in respect of funding received from the Scottish Government; and to evaluate the current and future capacity of the organisation to deliver value for money in light of the new strategic approach to tackling drug use in Scotland.

Canadian Health Services Research Foundation: tools to help organisations create, share and use research

This resource, provided by the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation is a free online database of resources for health services organizations that wish to use research better. Each resource is gathered and assessed by the Foundation to help organizations find, assess, interpret, and apply research evidence to inform health system policy and management decisions. The resources are classified per various phases: 'acquire', 'assess', 'adapt', and 'apply' to ensure relevant tools are easily available for the user.

Childhood and Adolescent Mental Health : understanding the lifetime impacts

In April 2004 the Office of Health Economics and the Mental Health Foundation held a seminar focusing on the economics of childhood and adolescent mental health as part of their commitment to improving mental health provision for children and young people in the UK. This report is an attempt to draw together the themes from the discussions, along with general conclusions from the day.

Pathways to work from incapacity benefits: a study of referral practices and liaison between Jobcentre Plus advisers and service providers

This report presents findings from a qualitative research project carried out as part of a wider evaluation of Jobcentre Plus Pathways to Work. The study was conducted in 2007 and 2008 to explore referral practices and liaison amongst Jobcentre Plus staff and service providers involved in helping incapacity benefits recipients move towards, and into, paid employment. The study was led by the Social Policy Research Unit at the University of York in collaboration with the Policy Studies Institute and the National Centre for Social Research.