The most trustworthy knowledge comes from systematic reviews where a whole body of work on a given topic is examined, using set ways of deciding what is relevant, how the quality of different studies should be judged and how the messages should be brought together. Looking at a whole body of work in this way means that there is less potential for the messages from research to be unduly affected by single studies.
SCIE has developed systematic mapping of social care research. Systematic mapping is a way of taking stock of the existing literature on a particular topic. It is a tool that offers policy makers, practitioners and researchers an explicit and transparent means of identifying narrower policy and practice-relevant review questions. It also enables the identification of gaps in the evidence base and the assessment and comparison of in-depth systematic literature reviews within the broader literature.
A list of online reports on various areas of social care.
A one-stop shop for social care practitioners, presenting key findings, current legislation and examples of what is working well to guide and inform practice. Topics include mental health; children, young people and families; disability; fostering; and older people.
A part of IRISS's Evidence Informed Practice Portal, the toolkit provides guidance on the process of finding and using evidence for service innovation and improvement. It has four steps designed to help users acquire, assess, adapt and apply evidence in practice, and involves a number of learning activities to help improve skills and confidence in these areas.
Resource designed to provide ready access to relevant policy, available evidence and emerging practice on topics of current importance. It addresses topics where the evidence base is currently less well-developed, but where practitioners and managers still need to access emerging evidence and information to help inform their practice. Themes include outcome-based commissioning and contracting, support brokerage, joint strategic needs assessment, and social firms.
A gateway to high-quality information and learning resources for social services professionals, service users and carers.
Website resource with links to the National Children's Bureau's free publications. It includes guides, reviews and toolkits on a wide variety of subjects.
Website resource of Joseph Rowntree Foundation research reports. Resources range from education, training and employment, housing and communities and social problems, to health and care, involvement and engagement, and arts, culture and technology.
Part of the Glasgow School of Social Work Research series, Duncan MacKay speaks about personalisation services in Scotland. The event was held on 8th October, 2009.