research and evaluation

SCIE knowledge review 07: improving the use of research in social care practice

Evidence-based policy and practice increasingly demands the use of research as a key tool to improve practice. However, little research can be directly applied to practice, many practitioners aren't equipped to digest research and appropriate support systems are lacking. What is needed is a better understanding of the relationship between social care research and the work of social care practitioners, including what organisational structures are needed to enable the use of research.

Research-minded practice : did you know?

This learning object is one of a set of exercises and activities taken from the book 'Modern Social Work Practice' written by Mark Doel and Steven Shardlow. The meeting point of research and practice is one of the most fraught locations on the social work map. All too often, practitioners complain that research findings never tell them what they do not already know are matched by researchers' criticisms that practice is based on professional folk lore.

Integrated working : a guide

Integrating organisations and services is a daunting task and there is plenty of evidence that outcomes can be poor if services are delivered in a fragmented way to people who need access to care. With that in mind, Government has placed a duty of partnership on the main statutory bodies and integration remains a major aspect of its ‘modernisation’ plans for public services.

Adoption of looked-after children (SCIE knowledge review 02)

In the UK, political initiatives have encouraged the greater use of adoption as a solution to the care of children who cannot live with their birth families. This drive for 'permanence' has been welcomed by many, but has also given rise to debate. Where children have lingered uncertainly and for too long in the care system, 'permanence' is clearly the top priority. But not all children need the same solution. They may be 'children who wait', but they may not be waiting specifically for adoption.

Reporting changes in circumstances: factors affecting the behaviours of benefit claimants

The purpose of this study was to inform the DWP's approach to tackling fraud and error and find practical ways of improving the prompt reporting of changes in circumstances by benefit claimants, covering jobseekers' allowance, income support, housing and council tax benefit and pension credit and exploring awareness of the type of information that needs to be reported, when, which authority should be informed and other factors.