FOUNDATIONS - WHAT WORKS CENTRE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES 

In phase one, we will examine local authority predictors of the variation in KFC and SGO useacross the country. We will use administrative data (children looked after returns database)to compute the ....more

In phase one, we will examine local authority predictors of the variation in KFC and SGO useacross the country. We will use administrative data (children looked after returns database)to compute the number of kinship care placements as a proportion of all placements in eachlocal authority. We will use the same data for SGOs and compute the proportion of childrenleaving care to an SGO as a proportion of all children leaving care in each authority. We willthen examine local what authority characteristics including deprivation, numbers of childrenwho have a social worker, ofsted ratings, size, ethnic distribution, etc. predict this variation inuse. We will also begin to prepare data for conducting quasi-experimental impactevaluations.In phase two, we will collect data about interventions local authorities have in place, whenthese were first introduced and how they are implemented to attract and support kinshipfoster carers and special guardians. For example, some authorities provide financial supportto special guardians whereas others dont. To ensure data of sufficient quality and breadth iscollected, this work will require significant engagement with key stakeholders and localauthorities.In phase three, we will ask the following research questions:- What is the impact of local authority interventions to attract and support kinship fostercarers and special guardians, on the rate of kinship foster care placements andspecial guardianship orders We will seek to determine the impact of interventions inisolation or as a package of measures, depending on what interventions differentlocal authorities are implementing.Where interventions feasibly have an impact on children, for example financial support tocarers and guardians, or enhanced training or support, we will also ask:What is the impact of local authority interventions to attract and support kinship fostercarers and special guardians on the outcomes of children, including educationaloutcomes, stability (including placement breakdown) and social and emotional well-being We will use the Children Looked After Dataset as well as the National PupilDatabase which together provide individual level data on children as well aseducational outcomes, placement history and stability and measures of social andemotional well-being.In the implementation and process evaluation, we will consider how interventionswere implemented, including the barriers to implementation and unintended impacts.We will also ask what users perceive the mechanisms of impact to be.We will also consider the costs of each intervention and where we identify an impact,we will examine cost savings to local authorities.

To support the Reducing Parental Conflict programme by 1) producing and share evidence, guides and tools 2) Providing direct support to LAs 3) Identifing emerging areas of interest

Aims:Build and strengthen the evidence base on what works to improve the educational outcomes of children in need;Test effective methods of strengthening the relationships between children's social ....more

Aims:Build and strengthen the evidence base on what works to improve the educational outcomes of children in need;Test effective methods of strengthening the relationships between children's social care and schools;Improve our understanding of the impacts of strengthening key support roles in schools and social care for improving outcomes for children in need;Continue to establish a culture of evidence-based practice in the children's social care sector and help schools and social care understand what works to improve outcomes for children in need;Give the sector what it needs to shape practice and provide support for children in need, e.g. by resourcing professionals (including social workers, teachers, and others) working with children in need;Objectives:Test the effectiveness of embedding social workers in schools;Gain evidence-based feedback on whether and how supervision would be an effective support mechanism for us to build into the strengthened DSL role;Test the impact of four Signs of Potential interventions at a larger scale and develop and conduct initial research on two or more new interventions that specifically target supporting young people with social care experience to thrive and succeed in education;Share findings from all four projects widely among the education and social care sectors and find ways of influencing the take up of new ideas/initiatives.

WWCSC shall use all reasonable endeavours to achieve the following aims:Identify gaps in evidence, and create new evidence through trials and evaluations;Collate, synthesise, and review existing ....more

WWCSC shall use all reasonable endeavours to achieve the following aims:Identify gaps in evidence, and create new evidence through trials and evaluations;Collate, synthesise, and review existing evidence;Develop, test, and publish tools and services that support the greater use of evidence;Champion the application of robust standards, and appropriate dissemination of evidence in children's social care research.