Our year in review
The Research in Practice review highlights our programme of work and impact across the sector.
Research in Practice work with and for professionals in the social care, health, criminal justice and higher education sectors offering resources, learning opportunities and specialist expertise.
We aim to support their learning to enable people – children, young people, families, adults, carers and communities – to live good lives. Our annual review showcases and demonstrates our work to support evidence-informed practice.
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'Our annual report comes at a moment of change for the whole country – and no doubt for the sector. We are hopeful for what the future holds and welcome the government’s commitment to children and young people, families, adults and communities.
It has been an extremely busy year as we continue to deliver high-quality and evidence-informed learning resources and opportunities to our vibrant network of Partners. This has included bringing together experts from practice, academia and lived experience to create extensive learning resources such as the Co-producing a brighter social care future: Evidence Review, Equity: Change Project and Families and homes: Change Project.
We have developed a new Learn and Deliver programme designed to support individuals providing learning and development in organisations. Our membership engagement programme has also been expanded with monthly Practice Pointers, Engagement Support, and How to use Research in Practice sessions for access to learning and development opportunities and peer-to-peer learning.
We have also been leading valuable national projects. The adult social care leadership programme is supporting the supervision and development of leaders. The National Workload Action Group is developing recommendations and solutions to ensure a strong children’s social care workforce. And learning from local children’s safeguarding partnerships aims to inform and improve safeguarding reviews.
As you will hopefully know by now, Research in Practice joined the National Children's Bureau (NCB) family. We are excited about how much more we can achieve together. NCB and Research in Practice both hold deep specialist expertise, some that overlaps and all of which complements the other and, crucially, both organisations hold shared values and missions. Bringing the two organisations together has increased our expertise and is combining our reach across the sector.
As the country moves into a new era, so do we. Full of hope for what we can achieve together, and full of pride to be supporting the sector to improve people’s lives.’
Dez Holmes, Director of Research in Practice and Anna Feuchtwang, Chief Executive Officer at National Children’s Bureau
Our approach
At Research in Practice everything we do is designed to equip individuals and organisations with the knowledge, skills and confidence to apply evidence in their work, improve outcomes and enable people to live good lives.
Our work brings together research evidence, practice wisdom and expertise from people’s lived experience. We do this by:
- Reading, exploring and synthesising the latest research evidence.
- Speaking to professionals across the sector about practice wisdom and current issues.
- Listening and learning from people's lived experience.
We then work with experts to create learning opportunities and resources on relevant topics; tailored to the learning needs of individuals and organisations.
In our short clip, Dez Holmes explains how evidence-informed practice works.
Research in Practice as part of the National Children’s Bureau family
In February 2024, the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) became the new permanent home of Research in Practice. The move pools our capability and resource in systems-change methodology, research and evidence generation, and high-quality professional development to create a truly unique offer for our many partners and stakeholders. In a short clip, Research in Practice Director Dez Holmes talks to NCB Chief Executive Anna Feuchtwang about the collaboration.
'Our shared values and the clear synergy between our respective expertise means we can achieve even greater impact. We are excited about this next chapter and delighted by the warm response we’ve had to this news.'
Dez Holmes, Director of Research in Practice
‘Research in Practice’s expertise and well-deserved reputation for high-quality, evidence-informed work will greatly enhance our organisation and our ability to work across the systems that support children and adults to live better lives.'
Anna Feuchtwang, Chief Executive of the National Children's Bureau
As well as increasing experience and expertise, bringing the two organisations together combines reach across the sector to enhance our role as a hub and translator of ideas and innovation.
Our Partner network and Link Officers
Our Partner network steers our work - comprising of local, national and voluntary organisations, and universities across England.
Partner organisations have full access to our learning offer that includes publications, events, conferences, research projects, learning and development programmes, and online resources. They are kept informed, with regular updates on the latest research evidence, policy and case law.
We strive to support our Partners to work together – exchanging knowledge, learning and innovation across geographical or service boundaries. To facilitate this, each organisation has designated Link Officers who act as the vital bridge between Research in Practice and our network. They do this by facilitating the sharing of ideas and mobilisation of knowledge to their own Research in Practice members, and by connecting with colleagues.
Link Officers are indispensable in championing and embedding evidence-informed practice across within their organisations. They take the lead role in making sure our offer is used as fully as possible to underpin practice, decision-making and achieve maximum impact on practice.
‘I have found the support from Research in Practice to be fantastic. We access both Children’s and Adults sections of the site and this really helps in terms of giving staff access to articles/training/webinars etc. where there is overlap between two services.’
Link Officer
Our rolling programme of member engagement activities support Partners to access learning and development opportunities across the Research in Practice network. In our short clip, Lisa Wallis, a Link Officer at Southampton City Council describes some of the ways she and her colleagues use Research in Practice resources across the organisation, including bulletins, events and publications.
We also have a growing number of university Partners who have access to our learning offer and can access our resources through dedicated single-sign on access (SSO). University membership offers students, course leaders and researchers access to peer-reviewed publications, multimedia learning resources, engagement activities and support in a fast-changing social care policy and practice landscape.
'I have often used Research in Practice resources with qualified social workers undertaking practice education modules, mostly when asking them to consider critical reflection and reflective supervision. I am not alone in using these resources and I know that in our region many local authority practice development consultants also reference them. I also use the resources in my teaching with masters social work students. The resources are evidence-informed, accessible, informative and practically useful.'
University Partner
Supporting learning and development
We support professional learning and development by offering an extensive national programme of events, online workshops, conferences and bespoke learning to meet organisational needs.
We deliver over 800 events every year to professionals across the health and social care sector. Our rolling programme of member engagement activities support Partners to access learning and development opportunities across the Research in Practice network.
Our extensive menu of online learning workshops provide an effective and engaging way to deliver professional development directly to organisations.
Designed in consultation with the Research in Practice network, the menu includes popular topics for practitioners and managers working with children, young people, adults, and families.
'Research in Practice forms a core element of learning and development for our services. We look forward to our continued partnership with them in supporting us to ensure our practitioners from across the whole of our children’s and adults workforce have access to the tools, resources and learning to inform and support their practice and CPD.’
Link Officer
To support colleagues in workforce development teams we were delighted to launch the new ‘Learn and deliver’ programme. The programme aims to support those in learning and development roles to enhance their knowledge of learning theory, support online facilitation skills and discuss how to develop own bespoke sessions.
It is important to undertake continuing professional development (CPD) to enhance professional attributes, knowledge, understanding and skills.
Our learning resources provide an understanding of the recording, registration and regulation of CPD and support you to use evidence and to develop in your role. We support social workers and occupational therapists to maintain and record their CPD.
In our short clip Kate Metcalf from Social Work England explains the golden rules of CPD.
Read
- A guide to CPD for social workers: practice guide
- Continuing professional development (CPD) in occupational therapy
- Embracing evidence-informed practice and CPD
- Supporting evidence-informed practice and CPD in Southampton
- Supporting your CPD with Case Law and Legal Summaries
- Understanding peer reflection and CPD
Listen
Building organisational recruitment, retention and resilience
The challenging landscape currently facing Children’s and Adults’ Services requires a wide perspective that considers what it means to build a resilient system. Resilience is sometimes misinterpreted as meaning an individual’s ability to cope, instead of looking at the features and conditions of the system in which people can thrive. To support our network, Research in Practice resources support effective recruitment, retention and resilience.
In our short clip, Claire Williams from Research in Practice explains the importance of organisational resilience. Our dedicated campaign page can be used to support organisations.
Our new in-depth reflective supervision and practice leadership courses combine theory, practice and culture for practice supervisors, middle and senior leaders. Reflective supervision can support critical thinking and analysis, enhance emotional wellbeing and is a core element in any learning organisation. The dedicated modular programmes are aimed at organisations seeking to develop and embed a culture of reflective, curious and relational supervision.
'For younger social workers... it only takes two or three cases to go over a cliff … without the right support people just become isolated.'
Laura Cook
For Directors, Assistant Directors and strategic leads from across the network, our 2023 Leaders’ Forum explored how we can build system resilience. Colleagues from statutory and voluntary sector organisations, policy and academia met to interrogate the evidence base and share experiences.
Read
- Anti-racist systems leadership to address systemic racism: Strategic Briefing
- Anxiety in social work
- Building and sustaining a resilient system
- Measuring caseloads, building resilience and preventing burnout
- Measuring wellbeing and resilience to support recruitment and retention
- Neurodiversity in the social work profession
- Supporting trauma risk management in Wiltshire Council
- The Big Listen: Research and findings
Watch
- Building and sustaining a resilient system: Video learning resources
- Supporting neurodivergent practitioners in your social care organisation: Video learning resources
Listen
Learning resources and events
We develop a range of evidence-informed learning resources designed for professionals working with children, young people, adults and families tailored to individual and organisational learning and development needs.
As part of membership to Research in Practice, Partners have access to a range of learning opportunities and receive regular updates on the latest news and views, case law and policy. Our national programme of learning events, conferences and webinars support professional networking and development on pertinent social care topics.
All of our topics and resources are developed in consultation with Partners from across the national Research in Practice membership network to ensure our work reflects the needs and priorities of the sector. The curation, presentation and implementation of our resources enable members to use our outputs effectively.
We have also created responsive resources and activities based on network priorities as they arise. Continue to view our resources.
Developed in consultation with our national adults Partnership network our resources reflect the needs and priorities of the sector.
We have created publications, podcasts, digital resources and more on:
- Adult social care reform
- Co-production and the social model of disability
- Housing, homelessness and poverty
We also work collaboratively on a range of partnership programmes that aim to innovate excellent practice and build capacity across the social care sector.
Adult social care reform
Reforming and investing in adult social care is needed to a create system that supports and promotes people’s wellbeing and independence.
These resources consider how social care reforms can improve people’s access to good care, staff working conditions, and support for unpaid carers.
The Equity Change Project contains resources to support systems change by exploring intersectionality, equity, allyship and justice in adult social care. Developed by academics, practitioners in adult social care, and people with lived experience, the project explored how intersectionality can help achieve equitable experiences and outcomes. The resources aim to enable you to think about how you can increase equity and change the system – whatever your role or position.
What does wellbeing mean when it is interpreted by those with lived experience of social care? A co-produced Evidence Review explores the five key changes to unlock an equal life.
The Evidence Review started from the idea that adult social care has been under-imagined. Groups of people with different experiences worked together to discuss issues that are important to them, while reflecting on and interpreting the research.
The review contains practical suggestions for direct practice, supervising others, working in commissioning or senior management.
Everyone should have the right to live in safe, secure housing that meets their needs. When housing and social care work together, we are able to provide integrated support that is more effective and person-centred. These resources explore social care, housing and homelessness, and consider opportunities to improve integrated working across housing and adult social care. Our adults Partnership Conference considered how colleagues from across housing and social care can best support people experiencing homelessness and other housing needs.
'It was informative and allowed me to think of things that i have not thought about and this has inspired me to make my practice different in the meeting of each and every person I meet.'
Adults Partnership Conference delegate
Read
- A social approach to supporting and empowering disabled people in housing: Frontline Briefing
- Empowering disabled people in housing
- Housing, wellbeing and adult social care: Brief guide
- Opening doors for people with hidden disabilities and differences
- Radical safeguarding toolkit for homelessness
- Working together across the housing and social care workforce: Practice Tool
Listen
Developed in consultation with our national children & families Partnership network our resources reflect the needs and priorities of the sector.
We have created publications, podcasts, digital resources and more on:
- Autism-inclusive practice
- Direct work with children and young people
- Identity development
- Trauma-informed practice
We also work collaboratively on a range of partnership programmes that aim to innovate excellent practice and build capacity across the social care sector.
Autism-inclusive practice
Having an informed understanding of autism is key to supporting people. These resources explore the importance of building a positive understanding of autism to create a brighter, more inclusive future.
A series of short films explore the importance of building a positive and constructive understanding of autism so that our work with autistic children, young people and their families is collaborative, meets their individual needs and promotes their self-acceptance.
In our clip Kieren Rose explores how we can build a society in which autistic individuals are fully supported.
Direct work with children and families
Communicating effectively with children in direct work can be challenging. Supporting social workers early in their career is a vital element in retaining and developing a skilled and experienced workforce.
This support not only benefits the practitioners involved, but also helps organisations to develop capacity to be relational and person-centred when responding to both the strengths and needs of children and families.
Our children & families Partnership Conference explored early career development, and aimed to support practitioners whose life experience includes social work involvement in their own family lives. These resources aim to support practitioners to develop knowledge and skills for direct work with children and families.
'This is one of the best conferences that I have attended in a while. Well organised, adequately coordinated and full of interesting speakers along with enthusiastic attendees. I really appreciate all the plans that went into making it a success because that is what it is to me.'
Children & families Partnership Conference delegate
Read
- Infant removals: Working with families to prevent recurrent proceedings
- Pre-case management hearing meeting scoping pilot: final report
- Supporting people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
- Use of digital technologies in child and family social work: developing practice
- Using family group conferences to enable family led decision-making in child welfare
- Working with families where engagement is challenging
- Working with families to support early development: learning from the evaluation of A Better Start
Listen
For children who have experienced disruption, harm or trauma, support from professionals who seek to understand, respect and represent their unique identity, including in case records, is crucial. These resources aim to support practitioners understand, explore and support the identity development and lived experience of children and their families.
Read
- Child-led approaches to understanding minoritised identities in care
- Creative Aid: Supporting care leavers in a prison setting
- Expressions of self: supporting minoritised children’s identity: Frontline Briefing
- Understanding, exploring and supporting children’s identity development: Practice Tool
Watch
Listen
Trauma-informed practice
Trauma-informed care is not about excusing harm, but about understanding people who have experienced trauma and supporting them more effectively.
Video resources, that include presentations from Lads Like Us, consider how we can build trauma-informed support and protection with children and families. In addition, videos from the Innovate Project explore innovation in response to extra-familial risks.
These resources aim to support practitioners to reflect on the practical application of trauma-informed care with children and families, addressing barriers to accessing support and how we can share power effectively.
'At the heart of trauma-informed care is broadening our awareness and understanding of trauma, and the many ways that if affects individuals. By understanding how trauma affects the people we work with, and looking at what we do through their eyes, we can start to adapt our practice to meet their needs.'
Dr Sheena Webb
We work collaboratively on a range of partnership programmes that aim to innovate excellent practice and build capacity across the social care sector.
While each programme has a different focus – all aim to increase the use of evidence-informed, emotionally intelligent and systemic approaches. We are strongly committed to sharing these learning approaches widely and have made learning open and free to access to enable all practitioners, researchers and people with lived experience of social care and the allied sectors of health, justice and education access.
This is an ever-expanding area of our work, and we continue to welcome approaches from all sectors to increase the use of evidence-informed practice.
Adult social care leadership programme
The adult social care leadership programme is supporting the development of leaders.
The programme is aimed at – Approved Mental Health Professional Leads (AMHP), Principal Occupational Therapists (OTs), Adults Principal Social Workers (PSWs) and Global majority aspirant leaders across these three professional groups. Commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care, Research in Practice is delivering the leadership programme.
It is engaging with the latest evidence and the importance of reflective, curious and relational supervision. The programme offers several elements such as individual mentoring sessions, action learning sets, reflective small groups, self-assessment questionnaire and taught sessions.
Information collected by children's services is not always used to best meet the needs and interests of children, young people and families. Research in Practice is supporting the Children's Information Project that is aiming to improve how data is used in local and national Government.
The project, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, is an innovative collaboration between local authorities and universities.
It is important to ensure that diverse voices, including those of children, young people, families and practitioners, are heard more clearly within children’s information and are listened to. The project aims to ensure that these voices influence how the information is gathered, shared, processed and used.
National Workload Action Group
Research in Practice is supporting the delivery of a National Workload Action Group (NWAG) that has been set up to ensure a strong children’s social care workforce where social workers are supported and valued.
Stable Homes, Built on Love identified the need to improve retention rates across the country and reduce unnecessary workload pressures, so that social workers can spend more time building relationships with children and families.
The NWAG will develop recommendations and solutions on reducing unnecessary workload drivers for child and family social workers. This will include co-developing and testing new resources with practitioners, managers, and leaders as part of a consortium led by Essex County Council.
We are delighted to continue to support the Principal Social Workers (PSW) Network.
We work closely with the network Chairs and co-chairs to provide administrative support, host events and ensure communications reach PSW network members through regular bulletins, social media posts, and a dedicated Teams channel. Our annual conference also brings our PSWs together to share best practice.
As a network and as individuals working at organisational, regional and national levels, PSWs hold unique and vital insights into the demands the profession faces, and the hands-on expertise on leading practice, even in the most challenging times.
We have also expanded our offer to provide administrative support to the Principal Occupational Therapists network and the Approved Mental Health Professional leads network.
'Thank you for a very helpful and engaging session. I felt it was a good space to reflect on what we are already doing but also what more can be done. I left the session feeling positive about the change we can achieve.’
PSW conference delegate
Rethinking domestic abuse in child protection
‘If we can support people to think and do differently in this space, we should see a reduction of the pressure on child protection systems. We should see families feeling respected and supported, women and men feeling supported in a different way and ultimately, that should mean children, women and families are less likely to live the consequences of domestic abuse and violence.’
Professor Kate Morris
The term domestic abuse encompasses a range of controlling and coercive behaviours, used by one person to maintain control over another with whom they have, or have had, an intimate or family relationship.
Rethinking domestic abuse in child protection: responding differently (RDAC) is a collaborative project, funded by Nuffield Foundation. The project concludes in 2024 and has three aims:
- To address gaps in our knowledge on the nature and characteristics of domestic abuse and violence in child protection situations.
- To examine the relationship between Domestic Abuse, Violence, Child Protection responses and intersectional inequalities, determining how these shape experiences and outcomes.
- To co-produce frameworks, in partnership with families and practitioners, to support new approaches in policy and practice.
Research and evaluation
We are a leading research and evaluation provider in Children’s and Adults Services, supporting providers to understand the impact that their services are having.
Our evidence-informed approach is central to research and evaluation, and we weave research evidence, professional expertise and the views of those with lived experience throughout our evaluations.
Our evaluations this year have included working with organisations including Barnado’s, Safer Devon, Circles South West and Wandsworth Council to support them with evaluations of practice.
We have also supported the development of practice supervisors working in adult social care and have conducted a second national analysis of Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs) on behalf of Partners in Care and Health making 31 recommendations for improvement - including law, policy and understanding of what good safeguarding looks like.
Social Work Organisational Resilience Diagnostic
The Social Work Organisational Resilience Diagnostic (SWORD) offers a diagnostic survey and an online workbook designed for use across the whole social work and broader social care profession.
The aim of SWORD is to help leaders and managers to create the conditions that enable workers to sustain and develop resilience.
The SWORD diagnostic survey enables the collection and analysis of data from social care workers across organisations to assess organisational health and highlight priority areas for improvement. The workbook offers targeted, evidence-informed tasks and strategies to support organisational improvements and develop conditions to better support social care worker wellbeing.
The SWORD is currently being updated so that Partners can access as part of their memberships. This will enable organisations to run the survey at a time that suits them. The system will analyse the data and reports will be downloadable.
Keeping you informed
To keep informed with our latest news and information follow us on Twitter @researchIP and LinkedIn.
Partners also receive regular email bulletins on the latest research evidence, policy announcements and more – tailored to children and families or adults social care practice.
To subscribe to our Partner bulletin, sign in to your account and select 'Contact preferences' on your dashboard. If you are not a member of Research in Practice and wish to find out more please visit our membership pages.
Ensure you are following @researchIP on social media and have signed-up to our bulletin to hear about the latest news and information from Research in Practice.
If you have any questions or comments please contact us for further details and we will get back to you as soon as possible.