services we offer for the year
Our extensive work programme and the services we offer are developed with our Partners for the benefit of all in the network. This is a constantly evolving process that reflects the dynamic relationship between our staff and the network. By being part of the network, you can help us to provide services that you need to help you achieve better outcomes for children and their families.
Click here to see how research in practice can support you in your role as Link Officer
This section is broken down into the following subsections, which reflect the six strands of our work :
Our publications are delivered regularly across the network, reflecting not only the breadth of our work but also the different needs of people working at different levels in Partner agencies. We have pioneered the delivery of key research findings and practice messages in non-print formats, such as:
- audioCDs – and as MP3 downloads from our website
- film on CD
- Dig Deeper sections on our website
An example of publication that Partners typically receive throughout the year are listed at appendix A (2006-2007). Our publications are growing and becoming more dynamic each year. We have recently introduced PROMPTS, an electronic publication distilling research, policy and practice information specifically for Second Tier Officers: www.rip.org.uk/prompts
To see what publications Partners receive throughout the year click here.
The research in practice website is an invaluable learning tool in its own right. It is a unique learning platform that gives the network speedy access to evaluated research information and helps you to see how your work with research in practice relates to the other strands of our work programme. It has been developed over time to ensure that research awareness and evidence-informed practice are at the heart of your strategy for children and families. It provides access to:
- the EvidenceBank - an extensive database with details of important research reviews and research summaries
- Research and Policy Updates - relevant up-to-the-minute research and policy information
- Register of Researchers - a unique database of individual researchers
- Information about the Change Projects with their pilot and final materials (usually alongside further internet support) on the site
- Prompts – a new web-based publication for second tier officers produced 3 times per year which pulls together a review of research, promising practice and useful resources on one topic
- research resources - resources to help you to locate, access and evaluate research
- network resourcebank - 'products' that agencies in the research in practice network have generated to help support or spread evidence-informed practice in their organisation.
- Learning Events - details of workshops, conferences and symposia and related e-learning
- national policy and research links -key policy initiatives and research sites.
The website also helps Partners to see how their work with research in practice relates to the other strands of our work programme. For instance, it carries the pilot and final materials from our Change Projects (usually alongside further Internet support) and it will also include materials developed from the new case study workshops. Reports from our symposia and other conferences are also posted here.
The research in practice network is committed to collaborative enquiry as a key route to embedding evidence-informed practice in the work of its Partner agencies. Over the past eight years, Change Projects have proved a highly effective way of structuring this enquiry process. They are characterised by the following key features:
- enthusiastic professionals from several agencies meeting over a period of several months to explore together a topic related to evidence-informed practice
- facilitation from research in practice and/or another expert in the field
- a supportive climate that helps participants to learn from each other
- work being completed by participants back in their agencies between group meetings
- the publication of practical products that crystallise the collaborative learning, usually including audio-visual materials.
Change Projects typically have a ‘life cycle’ of three to five years. However, practical products are published and shared with the network throughout this cycle. There are nine stages:
STAGE 1: idea generation
STAGE 2: scoping study / literature search
STAGE 3: experts’ knowledge exchange / firm proposal and plan
STAGE 4: recruit and run a Change Project group
STAGE 5: produce an Action Pack
STAGE 6: pilot and evaluate the Action Pack
STAGE 7: produce a final Handbook
STAGE 8: launch and publicise the Handbook
STAGE 9: promote and support use of the Handbook (including training events)
Topics include matters of concern to practice or core strategic issues. So far, Change Projects have been completed on:
- using research evidence in teams (Teamwise handbook)
- organisational support for the development of evidence-informed practice (Firm Foundations handbook)
- supporting non-researchers to conduct evaluations of their service (NIFTY handbook)
- Leading Evidence-Informed Practice (handbook)
- Evidence Matters – Social Work Expertise in the Family Court (handbook)
The Change Projects currently underway are:
- what helps effective frontline partnership working (stage 6)
- engagement and re-engagement of children in education at KS3 (stage 4)
- young people, alcohol and offending (stage 7)
- Growing Digital: how ICT can promote research use (stage 7)
- Thinking and writing analytically in assessments (stage 2).
New Change Projects that are in our next work plan for the Idea Generation Stage are:
- Housing professionals as partners in children and family services
Partners have the opportunity to engage in these unique Change Projects at various stages in the ‘life cycle’ above – most intensively as part of a Change Project group (stage 4) or as a member of a group piloting the Action Pack (stage 5).
Our approach to developing our Learning Events Programme, as in all aspects of our service delivery, is to respond to the needs expressed within the research in practice network. Our primary aim throughout the programme is to champion evidence-informed practice within the context of national and local policy agendas for children and families. Designed principally with front-line staff and first-line managers in mind, places on the programme belong to the Partner agency. These can be allocated to staff from that agency or staff from local consortia.
All events relate research findings and research methods to everyday practice and policy. And all events build in opportunities to reflect and plan for action back at work.
| event |
content |
places per agency |
| Partnership conferences |
Open to you and your colleagues from other professions with whom you work in partnership. |
11 places across 4 conferences with maximum of 3 places at any one event |
| research messages workshops |
concentrating on current research and how to apply it to practice |
9 places across the whole workshop programme. 2 places at any one day. |
| research support workshops |
providing skill-development opportunities for improving evidence-informed practice |
| case study workshops |
examining real cases and developing evidence-informed practice assessment models |
Each Partner agency is entitled to 20 places across the Learning Events Programme. We also keep a waiting list so that you may additionally benefit from more places should other Partners have to cancel.
For further information about forthcoming learning events look at the Learning Events Programme
To find out more about the Link Officers role in coordinating bookings look at What this means for you
To find out about booking places on the Learning Events Programme go to the Learning Events Booking Procedure
We provide structured opportunities for all Partners to learn from and with each other. For example, a widely used, closed and monitored, emailXchange group (by email and as a discussion forum on our website) allows Partners access to the skills and experience of the whole network. Structured support also takes the form of one overnight national event and one regional meeting annually for Link Officers, where Partners can apply a research focus to key policy and practice topics and network with colleagues on developments in evidence-informed practice.
For more information on the emailXchange please click here
Structured support also takes the form of regional meetings for our key Link Officers where Partners can discuss specific topics with neighbouring agencies.
We help Partners access the expertise they need from researchers and others for conferences, service planning and review.
research in practice hold annual national events. National events are designed to bring together key personnel in our Partner agencies, to provide both networking and mutual learning opportunities.
research in practice is frequently involved with a number of different organisations offering workshops and conferences. In this way we can broaden ourreach beyond subscribing Partners. Link and Support Officers will be informed of these as they arise.
Occasionally research in practice organise one-off events.
See 'what's on' for more information about these events
research in practice is building a close working relationship with its new sister organisation, research in practice for ADULTS.Children don’t live in isolation, and we recognise the need of our Partners to keep abreast of relevant policy and research developments relating to adults. Collaborations and communication between the two organisations aim to ensure greater awareness of these developments and reflect our increasingly multidisciplinary approach.
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