Introduction

research in practice is the largest child care research implementation project in the country. It was launched in 1996 and is a dynamic partnership between its 63 Member and Associate Member agencies, the Dartington Social Research Unit and the Children and Families Research Group at the University of Sheffield. Together we encourage the use of research in planning and practice in the personal social services for vulnerable children and their families.

research in practice is a developmental network advancing research based improvement via the world wide web and through organising exchanges, projects, conferences, publications and professional development work. All our services are designed to support the principles and requirements of government programmes such as Best Value and Quality Protects.

Our approach is underpinned by seven principles:

»       working in partnership with participating agencies
»       being both proactive and responsive
»       using a whole system approach - working with every level
»       developing alliances to enhance the links between research and practice and to gain the best possible services
»       focussing on the dissemination adoption and implementation of research
»       ensuring that our work and the use of research support initiatives to improve child care services
»       regularly and transparently evaluating the impact of what we do and the progress made by our members.

Overview of the past year

This has, once again, been a very exciting year - for research in practice and for the development of evidence based family and child care practice more generally. Major developments have and are taking place nationally which can only have a beneficial impact on service agencies' wish to develop sounder, more outcome focused services: the Social Care institute for Excellence (SCIE), the Electronic Library for Social Care (eLSC), the General Social Care Council (GSCC) the new DH research initiative on Quality Protects, the extension to the Quality Protects programme to name just a few. Thanks to the considerable efforts of all those involved in social care, the Government now recognises the need for strong and supported specialist social care services.

We continue to ensure that our work makes clear links with member agency imperatives - such as Quality Protects, Best Value etc - whilst also being determined to remain a specialist agency focussing on improving the use of and usability of evidence within service planning and delivery for vulnerable children and their families. Simplistically 'use' is a responsibility of service agencies while 'usability' might more properly be seen as the responsibility of researchers and research funders. We continue to see a role for ourselves in encouraging dialogue and greater partnership in teasing out and responding to these challenges together. We also take seriously our responsibility to represent our Member agencies' interests by linking closely with a number of these national initiatives - our increasing engagement with - and requests for help from - SCIE are a pleasing example of our progress here.

The rate of change, and often of staff attrition, within our member agencies affects not only their ability to make best use of their partnership with research in practice - but also makes it harder for us to keep up and develop better links with them. Link Officers remain the key conduit and yet they change almost as often as the weather. We are thinking hard about how better to support new Link Officers in what can be a demanding but - according to the testimony of many in the post - a personally rewarding role.

Our own staff changes have brought difficulties - although just three of our staff have left in the last six months this represents 33% of our workforce. Jo Cooke, our Associate Director, has moved back into the health world - but working to bring EBP in both health and social care closer together. Mark Horrocks did brilliant work to programme our website into existence and Kay Milner, sometimes single-handedly, kept our workshop and symposia programme going. They all brought invaluable new insights and skills to our work. However, we now have Nick Gornall in post and have also been able to work more closely with one of our Link Officers, Janet Gadsby from Derbyshire, who acted as Locum Associate Director for three months. We gained a great deal from having a Member agency representative on the inside. Our new and future appointments will bring new reflections and knowledge too - which will make an important contribution to keeping research in practice alert to new initiatives, opportunities and problems.

We have had some heartening feedback over the year about the contribution that our work has made. The audiotapes have produced a fairly constant flow of comment - almost all positive, such as in the following letter to the writer's agency Link Officer: 'As with the previous tape. I thought the quality was high - again I liked the format - played them on a long car journey - and the presentation of material in a conference style format.For the level it was pitched at the standard is very good - it could be used in team meetings for discussion, for induction of new staff - the summary of key legislation, messages from research and implications for practice are all included.' from an agency independent complaints person also leading a consultation service for young people looked after. We know that the independent evaluation has raised a number of important critical comments, which we wish to take on board in future tapes.

One of our more involved Link Officers, who has taken part in one of the Development Projects, wrote: 'research in practice provides a user-friendly, coherent framework for developing our evidence based work in Children's Services. Our membership is now well-established.' And from an equally committed Link Officer working within a rather more disrupted Member agency: 'Personally, I can say that having access to RiP (materials/conferences etc) makes a real difference in keeping up to date with developments/debates etc and also some sense of security. like staying loyal to the brand.you know it works! Finally, for (my agency) it's particularly important for us to be linked with a positive national organisation.it pulls us back into the mainstream.'

And finally, feedback can come from unexpected quarters, such as the following from a youngster accompanying his mother to one of our Symposia that took place on 'take your sons and daughters to work' Day: 'I am writing to say thank you very much for letting me come to the conference with Carol Robinson, Saul Becker, Karl Atkin and Jenny Morris. The school decided to have a "kids at work day" so instead of sitting at home reading e-mails with my dad I decided to come to my mum's conference. It was a day I will not forget in a hurry - I can really understand how hard you all work and I will never say school is hard ever again. I learnt a lot about children with a disability from coming. Once again all my thanks for a great day.' Maybe a future recruit to the social care workforce?

The specifics of our work this year are set out below, alongside feedback from our individual member agencies.




Target

Action

Timescale

Progress

Lead staff member (see p.28)

                                                                                                                                       

1.        Capacity Building

1.   

Service Head role in promoting evidence based services

a)       expand and continue London-based group, develop learning for others

b)       develop website section for information and exchange on departmental initiatives

on-going

                            

                

                                                  

                 March 2001

Meeting held in January for service heads in London and surrounding agencies. In spite of expressed prior enthusiasm very few agencies took part. Re-think of how to support this group has led to greater emphasis on Service Head needs in website monthly Research & Policy Updates, extension of Directors' Policy Forum to 2nd tier officers and RiP membership of key ADSS committees

                                                                                                                Over-arching decision made to develop networking through a series of dedicated email discussion groups moderated by our Web Liaison Manager, who joined us in May 2001. Ironically, or perhaps because of her arrival - in the last four weeks discussions have started on the website discussion group about service initiatives. To be explored and supported

Celia Atherton

                                                                              

                   

                     Elizabeth Cooke

2.   

teams becoming more confident about creating and using evidence

promote use of Team Plans as vehicle for monitoring /evaluation activity - support current agency progress

October 2000 onwards

Promoted in RiP and external presentations, although likely to be subsumed in future in our REAL Evidence Based Practice in Teams Action Pack work - see 2.5 below

Celia Atherton & Mo Barratt

3.   

link research in practice  services with Best Value

explore with selected member agencies

February 2001

A number of agency presentations at Link Officers' Annual Meeting (LOAM) in October involved the use of evidence in Best Value reviews, Celia  facilitated two  'challenge days' for Devon's BV review of leaving care services. Her enquiry on Link Officers' email discussion group created a number of interesting links and exchange of tips between agencies

Celia Atherton



Target

Action

Timescale

Progress

Lead staff

4.

joint CEBSS &  research in practice  strategy work with agencies in south west

exchange of knowledge, concerns and progress on strategies for and implementation of evidence based practice, and publication (see also 5.3 below)

on-going

No additional action on this to date - see 5.3 below

Celia Atherton

5.  

encourage greater senior management support for EBP

liaise closely with directors of RiP member agencies, especially those newly in post

on-going

Celia writes to new directors either on appointment or on taking up the post, also attended Social Services Conference and ADSS Spring Seminar

Celia Atherton

6.  

Link Officers fit RiP work with agency strategy

regular contact and support to Link Officers via meetings, letters and calls

on-going

Quarterly letters, and enclosures, sent out in August, November and February, email discussion group well-used, regular individual email and phone contacts

Celia Atherton & Jo Cooke

7.   

Link Officers to network more easily together

a)       encouragement to use email and website discussion groups

b)       use of email Link Officer group for other communications

on-going

                                                   

on-going

                                  

See above - email group now very well used. Briefing for new Link Officers to be formalised at next year's Link Officer's Annual Meeting - dedicated email (rather than website) discussion groups now starting and show signs of meeting a need. Managed and mentored by Web Liaison Manager

Have used it for distribution of quarterly letter in November; review of Quality Protects Research Briefings; alert of imminent arrival of new Learning Events programme (so encouraging advance planning), paper copies of website monthly Research & Policy Updates; mailing of end-of-year questionnaire; and questionnaire about their IT software capability  - all LOs now have email access

Celia Atherton & Elizabeth Cooke

                        

                         Celia Atherton

                                



Target

Action

Timescale

Progress

Lead staff

8.  

provide our services more widely within member agencies

discuss with 'joint department' and voluntary organisation member agencies

November 2000

Small but useful meeting held in London in January. Key issues for future work include:

Ü        wish for more multi-agency/profession seminars

Ü        need for Service Level Agreements to include negotiation about evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of the service provided

Ü        wish for more support for in-house service evaluation

Ü        need to increase skills in court presentation of evidence

Ü        wish for more thought and support in developing EBP strategies within agencies

Ü        clearer understanding of which agency staff need to be able to appraise evidence and which need to know key facts - identification of key staff constituencies as staff development managers, service heads, those thinking of moving from front-line practice to management

Ü        value of celebrating success.

RiP will incorporate these ideas into next year's Workplan

Celia Atherton & Jo Cooke



Target

Action

Timescale

Progress

Lead staff

2.       Website - Online Materials (www.rip.org.uk)

1.   

develop content

follow phase 2 plan

September 2000 onwards

Work has been maintained on this - but, because of the loss of key personnel, not at the level we would have liked. Web programmer left in January, replacement arrived in April. Also delay in waiting for arrival (in April) of Web Liaison Manager. Work has taken place on four fronts:

1.        maintaining and updating what is there

2.        reviewing and extending content

3.        improving user ease (architectural - how the site works, and visual - how the site looks), whilst maintaining site distinctiveness (commissioned external review to support this)

4.       providing new sections: monthly Research & Policy Updates (now a promising partnership with NCB), on-line links, EvidenceBank (evaluated guides to research reviews and their methodologies, keyworded by topic), Development Materials (symposia reports, REAL Teams Pack, All-Agency Audit 2000 report)

Overall aim has been to ensure that our year-end sees site working more efficiently and easily

Rose Hunt & Elizabeth Cooke



Target

Action

Timescale

Progress

Lead staff

2.   

develop 'training for trainers' guide

test with pilot group from three London member agencies and produce materials on web and on cd-rom

September 2000 onwards

Test training took place with members of the London agencies plus a large number of 'one-to-one' sessions in other agencies. The outcomes of this have informed current site re-design (increased 'clickability', HTML, resizable windows etc) and the shape of the training material developed. Cd-rom technology is being phased out generally, and we will therefore not develop this format. 'Training' will now be in three forms: a guided PowerPoint presentation for Link Officers and in-house trainers to use, improved help on the site itself, and an annual 'training the trainers' course. The first is being piloted now and will be issued to all Link Officers in October 2002, the second will be in place by then too, the third will take place during the next year

Have also had workshop website demonstrations at all symposia and to individual member agencies

Rose Hunt & Elizabeth Cooke

3.   

moderate and encourage  use of discussion and comment fora

recruit specialist worker to team

December 2000

Elizabeth Cooke appointed on six-month contract starting April 2001. Aim is to support discussion fora and evaluate essential tasks of the post for permanent (3 year contract) appointment. First is 'Research & Evaluation' group - for performance review, QA, research officers - has 43 members to date across RiP network. Topics have included BV Reviews, the research governance framework, consultation with children, and ethical issues in research.

Rose Hunt & Elizabeth Cooke



Target

Action

Timescale

Progress

Lead staff

4.  

develop children and families section

establish young people and families Advisory Group

January 2001

Delayed initially because of fallout from departure of web programmer (loss of staff support and also considerable problems in others understanding the programming conventions used and taking over this responsibility). Discussion started with other agencies to share knowledge and ideas about this work - see 10.2 below

Rose Hunt

5.  

provide development materials for member agency use

a)       EBTW action pack

b)       Organisational Support kit

February 2001

June 2001

Members of Phase 1 and 2 project groups met in December to further development of this 'REAL Evidence Based Team Working Action Pack'. Pack drafted in January, peer-reviewed by project team members, non-involved Member agency service heads and team managers, and designed as a print-based Pack, also available on our website. Aim is for Phase 3 to be more wide-ranging piloting within Partner agencies over next 18 months, supported if they wish by participation in the relevant 3-day learning module and/or mentors supported by RiP staff. Funding application made to Nuffield Foundation to support Phases 3 and 4 - re-write and final publication in 2003. Packs to be distributed at LOAM in October 2002. REAL = Reflection on Evidence for Action and Learning

Draft 'REAL Organisational Support for EBP: Audit and Toolkit' written and then reviewed by agencies involved with project.  Six Member agencies (Barking & Dagenham, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Dorset, Hampshire & Hertfordshire) formed partnerships for peer review and piloting starting January 2001 - first feedback session planned for July 2001 

Jo Cooke,            Mo Barratt & Celia Atherton

 

Jo Cooke &        Mo Barratt



Target

Action

Timescale

Progress

Lead staff

6.  

link work with other internet support for evidence based practice

a)       continue liaison with NISW, ADSS, DH etc                         

b)       continue partnership with eLSC and RMM

c)       together with others, such as ADSS, encourage provision of free access to RiP and other key 'ebp learning' sites - via Green Paper on Quality

on-going

                           

                            

                      on-going

                       

                       

                   

                        when Green Paper published

ADSS now have information about RiP, and a number of links to our website, on their website. Celia has taken part in all three invite-only DH seminars on implementing SCIE (presented at first, chaired one of the working groups at the second, co-presented with a care leaver - from Westminster - at one of the working groups at the third). Celia also met with Amanda Edwards, Head of PSS Quality Strategy in November to discuss Quality Strategy overall. Celia gave presentation at NISW/Guardian conference 'Using Knowledge to Promote Quality' in March

We maintain communication with Mark Watson (eLSC lead) but very NISW based with little or no opportunities for external involvement. Our website is linked in a number of areas. The Research Mindedness for Social Work and Social Care website is now live - with specific input from us on the case study pages(we are listed as co-authors) - it is also freely available via the eLSC

Response made on Quality Strategy for Social Care, plus meeting with DH lead (see (a) above). Also sent to Management Board, all Link Officers, chair of ADSS Research Group, ADSS lead responders and put onto our website. Free access also discussed in meeting with Amanda Edwards. Likely that this is seen as a function/decision of SCIE (who are unlikely to have funds to 'purchase' in this way). Unlikely to make headway on this in near future - more realistic to accept that our site will remain password-based

And see also additional website work described in section 10.2

Rose Hunt & Celia Atherton 

Celia Atherton

                      

                        

                            Celia Atherton & Rose Hunt



Target

Action

Timescale

Progress

Lead staff

3.        Learning Events

1.   

regional symposia 2001 programme

complete planning, publish and run programme

January 2001 onwards

Programme printed as a poster and distributed at LOAM in October. Bookings and take-up of booked places was down substantially on previous years:

percentage of offered places booked, with combined no-show and cancellation rate in brackets - 2001=70%(30%), 2000=87% (28%), 1999=86% (17%), 1998= 92% (10%), 1997=64% (n/a). 1997 was the original start-up year, hence low booking rate. The majority of no-shows (which were over ¼ of booked places this year) were for places reserved with no names attached by Link Officers. Five agencies booked no places at all. Some Link Officer feedback suggests that restrictions on travel budgets affected booking and attendance. Overall evaluation by those attending was very positive indeed about both format and content - and symposia and workshops probably most frequently mentioned as a useful service overall

RiP response to late cancellations and 'no-shows' to be discussed at LOAM in October 2001. Response to requests from member agency for concurrent session presentations very positive - over 30 different presentations made across the programme. Feedback suggests that there is a continuing place for this type of research and practice networking event within our wider Learning Events provision

Jo Cooke &       Janet Gadsby

2.   

spread learning from regional symposia

produce web-based symposium reports, using freelance 'rapporteur'

February 2001 onwards

Provided through partnership with Community Care: reports prepared by their acting features editor, Frances Rickford. First two now on website together with practice workshop summaries, third to go up in August

Celia Atherton  & Rose Hunt



Target

Action

Timescale

Progress

Lead staff

3.   

link learning to agency business

encourage agencies to adopt 'managed process' approach, give regular feedback on place allocation and uptake

October 2000 onwards

See 3.1 above - we (RiP and Partner agencies) have much work to do on this to ensure that we provide the right programme and agencies make good use of the resources available

Jo Cooke

4.  

workshops 2001/02 programme

start planning - programme to commence September 2001

February 2001

This section and one below now combined. Altogether it has been considerably extended since early planning last year - Learning Events programme now published with 'bookings open' date of 9 July 2001 - events run from September 2001 to July 2002: 1 symposium, 18 workshops and 3 x 2- or 3-day modules. All trainers booked and briefed

Jo Cooke,            Mo Barratt & Janet Gadsby

5.  

Learning Modules 2001/02 programme

start planning - programme to commence September 2001

February 2001

See 3.4 above - modules are linked to current (Evidence Based Team Working & Organisational Support) or planned (Getting and Using Evidence) Development Projects

Jo Cooke

4.        Conferences and Seminars

1.   

Link Officers' Annual Meeting

brief and consult with Link Officers on year's activity, and share learning - Dartington

October 2000

Very successful - principally because of the greater sharing of practice and experience of agency promotion of EBP, and links with other drivers such as QP and BV. Feedback from us on the All-Agency Audit was also positive and well used within a number of Member agencies. Support Officers from the five Associate Member agencies also joined the meeting

Celia Atherton

2.   

Directors' Policy Forum

update directors on latest research and evaluate agency progress on evidence based practice - Warwick

June 2001

Outline plans discussed at December Management Board meeting. Very good attendance and continuing mix of directors and service heads contributes to high quality of discussions. Speakers also highly rated by participants

Pete Marsh & Celia Atherton



Target

Action

Timescale

Progress

Lead staff

3.   

Elected Members' Seminar (now re-named Councillors' & Trustees' Seminar)

introduce elected members to key research relevant to widening horizons for young people - Bristol

July 2001

Focus changed to boys and fathers. Fewer participants than in past - subject matter was deliberately not mainstream. Presenters - researchers and practitioners very highly rated by participants. Debate was thoughtful and lively

Celia Atherton

4.  

Regional Agency Seminars

a)       offer individual agency/regional agency seminars

b)       link into Link Officer regional meetings

June 2001

Run or contributed to in Bolton, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire , Plymouth,  Portsmouth, Somerset, Southampton, cancelled in Dudley (transport difficulties),West Sussex (lack of participants) and Sutton (left membership). These are responses to specific requests which we try to meet when asked. Three northern Link Officer meetings held, and one for new LOs in and around London

Jo Cooke &      Celia Atherton

5.        Offline Materials

1.   

audiotapes

a)       two to be published

b)       full scripts to be placed on website

c)       promote usefulness to elected members

October 2000 & April 2001

              

                November 2000 onwards

January 2001

No. 5 - on leaving care - published at LOAM. Bulk mailed in November. No. 6 - on child and adolescent mental health - was published at Directors' Policy Forum and bulk mailed in August

                                                                                                                   Will be done, requires some transcription of non-scripted contributions, during next year

                                                                                                        Management Board were to 'test' with some of their elected members - no feedback on this. All delegates at this year's CTS were given a copy with feedback sheet to return to RiP

Mary Williamson & Celia Atherton

                         Celia Atherton

Celia Atherton



Target

Action

Timescale

Progress

Lead staff

2.   

audiotape evaluation

Proposal to Nuffield Foundation for independent evaluation by Policy Research Bureau - and evaluation completed

September 2000

Proposal agreed and funded. Medway, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Wiltshire are the sample agencies - all data collected and analysed - final report almost complete. First presentation of results made at Directors' Policy Forum. Evaluation was undertaken by Policy Research Bureau, led by Ann Hagell, with Liz Spencer. Article by Ann and Liz to be submitted to peer-reviewed journal and Community Care

Celia Atherton

3.   

research overviews

two to be published (see 1.1 above)

January & June 2001

one (on commissioning and managing external research) will be published and mailed in bulk to all Members and AMs in August, next (on the impact on children of parental alcohol misuse) to be published December 2002. The latter and future ones to undergo peer review

Celia Atherton

4.  

review of research on early intervention and prevention

to be purchased (when published by TCRU) for member agencies, or substitute with commissioned digest of DSRU publication on theme

June 2001

Following our review for possible purchase for Member agencies decided it was too expensive. Discussion about possible 'digest' from DSRU not taken place

Celia Atherton



Target

Action

Timescale

Progress

Lead staff

5.  

Quality Protects Research Briefings

a)       contract specialist reviewers, edit and manage publication of four (DH commission with MRC)

b)       conduct review with DH with view to continuing series

c)       write one on health and LAC

d)       explore possibility of producing parallel series for children and families

e)       promote and moderate use of 'good practice' discussion groups

on-going            

         November 2000

           

                  

                 

                 February 2001

                                                                                                                   

June 2001

         

December 2000 onwards

Four of first pilot series of six now published. No 5 (adoption) was drafted in December but held up in policy section of DH (still is at time of writing). No. 6 (ethnicity) author finally pulled out - new author being commissioned

                                                                                                                    We conducted a questionnaire review with our Members - also to Making Research Count (co-project leaders) contacts. Review took place in December 2000 with decision in-principle to re-contract. However, budget only finally agreed in June 2001 - from DH Policy. DH Research & Development Section willing to consider a bid so could lead to a further 5 over the next year. Topics agreed, most authors have agreed informally - commissions to be confirmed

                                                                                                            Timetable delayed because of above delays - will now be scheduled for next year

March project review meeting decided it was a good idea - in principle - however DH Policy funding agreed is not enough to fund this. To be part of above bid to DH RDD section - bid in but no date given for decision

Not used, except for initial promotion. Generally decision, and experience of others, is to promote discussions via email discussion group and archive on web. We will pursue this over the next year. Work for Web Liaison Manager - and see 1.1

Celia Atherton

                             Celia Atherton

 

                           

                                              

Rose Hunt

                            Celia Atherton

Celia Atherton & Rose Hunt



Target

Action

Timescale

Progress

Lead staff

6.  

newsposter

publish two, including material from member agencies

January & July 2001

One produced in April 2001, on the outcomes of the All-Agency Audit. Second one could not be done because of Jo Cooke's departure

(Jo Cooke)         Mo Barratt

7.   

NCB Highlight series

update previously authored Highlight on nutrition and young people

2001

It has not been possible to do this alongside all the RiP work. No pressure from NCB so will do if time becomes available - unlikely over next 12 months

Rose Hunt

6.       Links with Others

1.   

promote development of sound and field-appropriate review methodology

a)       continue discussions with DH

b)       respond to  and promote role of Green Paper on Quality

c)       explore appropriate critical appraisal training possibilities

on-going

                   when Green Paper published

March 2001

See 2.6 above

                                                                                                                        ditto

Not pursued - but will be picked up next year in the Learning Module 'Getting and Using the Evidence'

Celia Atherton

                            Celia Atherton                                                                                                  

Jo Cooke

2.   

support training for evidence based practice

a)       through discussions with CCETSW, TOPSS, Staff Development sections in member agencies, universities hosting PQCC pilot courses, workshops

b)       through direct teaching on PQCC courses

October 2001 onwards

                                      

Oct. 2001 onwards

Celia ran two workshops on EBP in children and family services at the NATOPSS (national training officers in personal social services) annual study period in April 2001. Jo contributed to teaching on DipSW course in Sheffield

Celia ran a workshop at the Bristol PQCC in June 2001

Celia Atherton & Jo Cooke

Celia Atherton



Target

Action

Timescale

Progress

Lead staff

3.   

access to our work for all ADSS members

a)       Quarterly Briefing to be published and mailed via ADSS

b)       workshop at ADSS Spring Seminar

c)       application for workshop at Social Services Conference 2001

d)       membership of ADSS Research Group and Children and Families Committee