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This report looks at what contribution ESRC research programmes make - and might make - to the knowledge base for social work and social care. The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is the largest single UK funder of social science research. Its role has been significantly expanded in recent years with a view to reinforcing the contribution made by social science to evidence-based policy and practice. Report published by Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) in December 2004.

This report provides a number of examples of research that are deliberately or inadvertently developing methods for synthesising evidence from diverse sources. It is a part of a larger SCIE programme of work focused on using knowledge in social care. It provides a partial picture of methodological work synthesising evidence from research using diverse research designs. It looks at work both on the synthesis of qualitative evidence and on the synthesis of qualitative and quantitative evidence.

This report focuses on the policies and practices that can promote integrated services to families. It makes a number of recommendations for improving joint practice, some of which are listed below. The guide is aimed at senior managers and social care workers in children's services and adults' services in local authorities. It is also aimed at workers and managers in other services that may be involved with families with alcohol and mental health problems such as local health services. Report published by in June 2003.

This report summarises the findings of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) Listening Exercise, which took place between February and July 2002. SCIE is an independent organisation created in response to the government drive to improve quality in social care services across England and Wales. It was launched in October 2001. As SCIE is a new organisation, it was considered appropriate during its first year to carry out a special Listening Exercise project.

This paper presents the process and outcomes of research in to service user and carer participation in developing social care services. This research was charged not with evaluating the impact of participation, but with scoping what is know about it and how evaluations are being conducted. Briefing paper published by Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) in June 2007.

This paper outlines a project commissioned by the Department of Health which focused on participation in the undergraduate and postgraduate social work degree. Focusing on how service user and care organisations can develop their involvement in the undergraduate and post graduate social work degree and drawing on successes of the first two years, the paper then goes on to identify existing barriers to successful partnership and possible ways forward. This project was a joint venture between Shaping Our Lives, Department of Health and SCIE.

The paper aims to identify what is happening in the social care sector with the involvement of carers and the impact participation has had on service improvement. It complements Position paper 3: Has service user involvement made a difference to social care services? The position paper is intended to help social services providers to work better with carers to develop social care services. Position paper published by Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) in June 2006.

The following recommendations are based on the knowledge review conducted by Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) on the effectiveness of childminding registration and its implications for private fostering. The review is part of a wider SCIE work programme that has been commissioned by the Department of Health (DH), England and National Assembly for Wales (NAW) to examine effective services for children and families. Position paper published in January 2003.

Briefing produced to support an inquiry by the Education and Culture Committee into the educational attainment of looked after children.

Despite ten years of policy effort to improve the educational attainment of looked after children, national statistics show that attainment and school attendance is still much lower and exclusions much higher than the average for all pupils.

Briefing that explains what the "autistic spectrum‟ is and examines statistics on its prevalence in the UK.

It summarises responses to the Member's consultation on the proposal for an autism strategy, considers the financial and legal implications of the Bill and provides an overview of existing legislation and policy relating to individuals on the autistic spectrum.