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We are now going to think about knowledge in the context in which you work.

Use the survey on the following screens to see how well your agency supports you in the different areas.

Once you have completed this you will be able to read our recommendations on how you could possibly improve your access to knowledge in these different areas.

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Policy Community Knowledge

This form of knowledge sets social care in it's wider policy context, and means that vital knowledge about services exists in the broader policy community of ministries, the civil service and think tanks.

For example, this knowledge might be generated through regular meetings with local MPs to ensure they are aware of community level issues in their debates in government.


Does your agency work towards ensuring that the knowledge held by you and the families with whom you work is fed back to policy makers?


Research Knowledge

This knowledge is derived from empirical enquiry such as reports, evaluations, assessments, which together combine to produce an evidence base.

Some examples might be:

  • Commission on Families and the Wellbeing of Children (2005)
  • Department of Health (2001) The Children Act Now: Messages from Research. London: The Stationery Office.
  • UNICEF (2007) Child Poverty in Perspective: An overview of child well-being in rich countries, The United Nations Children� Fund, 2007.

  • Does your agency help you to access or indeed contribute to research?


    User Knowledge

    Users of social care services are not passive recipients of 'treatment' but active participants who possess vital first hand knowledge gained from using services.

    ATD Fourth World is an example of an organisation that helps ensure that service user voices are heard.


    Does your agency support you in recognising that often families themselves will know best about their own situation/s and planning the best way forward for their children?


    Practitioner Knowledge

    Social care is conducted through the medium of practitioner's knowledge, some of it based on the worker's experience of working with families in similar backgrounds who face similar problems.

    Do you have adequate opportunities in your agency to share with colleagues the knowledge you have acquired through working with families?


    Organisational Knowledge

    All modern organisations engage in governance and regulation, and these activities provide the broad knowledge frameworks that shape social care. Such materials furnish an overview of the operation of social services in the wider contexts of government agencies, local and regional authorities and local communities.

    Some examples might be:

  • Children Act 2004
  • Children Act 2006
  • Every Child Matters publications

  • Are you aware of what policy documents and legislation are most relevant to your work with children?

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    Now choose the types of knowledge that you feel could be improved at your agency:

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    Policy Community Knowledge

    It is important that your agency works towards ensuring that the knowledge held by you and the families with whom you work is fed back into the social care community.

    Note down ways in which this could be achieved with your agency and then compare your answers with the list below:

    • Regular meetings with local MPs should take place so that they are aware of community level issues in their debates in government.
    • Your agency should ensure that the inspections undertaken by OFSTED; Joint Area Reviews etc draw on the views of you and the families you work with.
    • Your agency should highlight specific opportunities for consultation which arise, for example if a survey is being undertaken by government of the roles and tasks of social workers or early professionals.
    • Your agency should have links with professional associations forthe various workers they employ.
    • Your agency should alert you to the publication of relevant reports which might help you in your work.
    • Your agency website should flag up new reports you may find helpful.

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    Research Knowledge

    It is very important that you keep up to date with current research documents related to delivering services to families living in poverty.

    Write down some possible examples of some of these documents that are particularly relevant to your work with families. Then compare your answers with our list:

    • Regular meetings with local MPs should take place so that they are aware of community level issues in their debates in government.
    • Your agency should ensure that the inspections undertaken by OFSTED; Joint Area Reviews etc draw on the views of you and the families you work with.
    • Your agency should highlight specific opportunities for consultation which arise, for example if a survey is being undertaken by government of the roles and tasks of social workers or early professionals.
    • Your agency should have links with professional associations forthe various workers they employ.
    • Your agency should alert you to the publication of relevant reports which might help you in your work.
    • Your agency website should flag up new reports you may find helpful.

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    User Knowledge

    It is important that families are involved in the planning and provision of care for their children.

    List some of the ways in which your agency could help you with this and then compare your answers with our list:

    • Families in the community should always be given the opportunity to respond to consultations about local services by your agency, including if it is part of the local authority.
    • New contracts for services to voluntary and community organisations should only be awarded by the local authority to agencies who can always give the opportunity to respond to consultations about local services.
    • Supervision sessions with managers should encourage you to clarify that you have asked families for their own views.
    • There should be a requirement that you reflect the exact views of families in your case recording.
    • There should be a requirement by your managers that any statements you might make about parental capacity must be balanced by accounts of the social and material circumstances of families with whom you may work.
    • Your agency should have formal links with local parent groups or national groupings such as ATD Fourth World.
    • Your agency should regularly quote briefings from organisations such as the Family and Parenting Institute (FPI); ParentlinePlus; Child Action Poverty Group (CPAG).

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    Practitioner Knowledge

    It is important to share the experiences and knowledge that you may have already acquired, about working with families who are living in poverty and those of your colleagues.

    List possible knowledge channels that may be helpful to you in your day-to-day work and then compare your answer with our list:

    • There should be supervision sessions that encourage you to reflect on this knowledge.
    • Work based seminars should enable staff to give presentations.
    • Staff should be encouraged to write practice based articles for publication.
    • There should be an agency website for sharing ideas.
    • There should be active links with other organisations.
    • Facilitation of close links with local colleges should take place.
    • Opportunities should be available to work in a different team for a short period of time.
    • There should be opportunities for attending conferences.
    • There should be opportunities for talking at conferences.
    • Managers who are planning changes to the delivery of services should consult with their workforce to discuss.

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    Organisational Knowledge

    It is very important that you are aware of the key legislation and policy documents that relate to your work with families.

    List 5-10 key acts, policies, reports and documents are particularly relevant to your work with families. Then compare your answer with our list:

    • Families in the community should always be given the opportunity to respond to consultations about local services by your agency, including if it is part of the local authority.
    • New contracts for services to voluntary and community organisations should only be awarded by the local authority to agencies who can always give the opportunity to respond to consultations about local services.
    • Supervision sessions with managers should encourage you to clarify that you have asked families for their own views.
    • There should be a requirement that you reflect the exact views of families in your case recording.
    • There should be a requirement by your managers that any statements you might make about parental capacity must be balanced by accounts of the social and material circumstances of families with whom you may work.
    • Your agency should have formal links with local parent groups or national groupings such as ATD.
    • Your agency should regularly quote briefings from organisations such as the Family and Parenting Institute (FPI); ParentlinePlus; Child Action Poverty Group (CPAG).

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