research report

Home care re-ablement services: investigating the longer-term impacts (prospective longitudinal study)

This study aimed to provide robust evidence on the immediate and longer-term benefits of home care re-ablement, by comparing outcomes for users of home care re-ablement with outcomes for people using conventional home care services; identify factors affecting the level and duration of benefits for service users; estimate the unit costs of home care re-ablement services; identify impacts on and savings in the use of social care and other services that could offset the costs of re-ablement; and describe the content of home care re-ablement services.

Resourceful leadership: how directors of children's services improve outcomes for children

Leading for Outcomes is a unique study into senior leadership in children's services in England, drawing on in-depth primary research with leaders in eight local authorities, and 22 directors of children's services. The eight local authorities were selected on a range of factors but primarily to represent existing high performers or rapidly improving authorities in terms of outcomes. The research was commissioned by the National College in partnership with C4EO, and completed by a team comprising Deloitte, Navigate and the University of Oxford. The study was completed during 2010.

Research governance in children's services: the scope for new advice

This project was commissioned by the former DCSF to inform the development of guidance on research governance in children’s services. The overarching aim was to contribute to the development of a more coherent and transparent system, that is proportionate to the governance needs and ethical risks in research with users of children’s services.

Serious case review: executive summary - Child D

This Serious Case Review (SCR) has been undertaken by the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Board (the LSCB), a multi-agency partnership which is the key statutory mechanism for agreeing how local organisations will co-operate to safeguard and promote the welfare of local children.

The SCR has been undertaken in accordance with the statutory guidance set out in Working Together to Safeguard Children – Chapter 8: Serious Case Reviews (HM Government 2009).

Diversion from prosecution to social work in Scotland: a snapshot of current patterns and an examination of practice in three CJAs

This report was commissioned by the Scottish Government as a result of concerns raised by the diversion working group of the Pre-Disposal Programme Implementation Board. The numbers of cases diverted from prosecution have fallen in recent years (2006 onwards) and it was felt there was a need to investigate the issue further.

To facilitate this, the Scottish Government requested that the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research (SCCJR) undertake a small-scale research study on the use of social work related diversion schemes by Procurators Fiscal in Scotland.

Teenage drinking cultures

This report investigates the onset and development of drinking behaviours within teenage friendship groups.

Using social network data from the Belfast Youth Development Study, the study identified and sampled eight relatively stable friendship groups covering a mix of social class, gender and type of education. Report published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in February 2011. Summary of report also available.

Health and social care bill: bill 132 of 2010-11: research paper 11/11

This briefing on the Health and Social Care Bill has been prepared for the Second Reading debate on the Bill in the House of Commons on 31 January 2011. The Bill is intended to give effect to the reforms requiring primary legislation that were proposed in the NHS White Paper Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS. This White Paper set out the Government’s aims to reduce central control of the NHS, to engage doctors in the commissioning of health services, and to give patients greater choice. Published in January 2011. Applies to health and social care in England.

Support.Stay.Save: care and support of people with dementia in their own homes

This report from the Alzheimer’s Society reveals that many people with dementia and carers receive insufficient support and care at home. It also found that the home care workers who responded regularly worked with people with dementia and understood that they could have a good quality of life. First published in January 2011.

Personalisation: principles, challenges and a new approach; a statement by the Association of Directors of Social Work

This paper sets out ADSW's position regarding the personalisation of social work services in Scotland.

It aims to maintain the momentum for change established by the publication of the Changing Lives Service Development Group papers and follows on from ADSW's seminar in September 2008, organised as part of the association's drive to implement the Changing Lives recommendations at local level.