research in practice

This story describes how a critical analysis of a multiagency learning event on safeguarding run by the Sandwell Local Safeguarding Children Board has led to significant improvements in training. The analysis was undertaken by the Learning and Development Manager in Sandwell’s Children and Young People’s Division.

This story describes how identifying a problem and analysing the evidence led to the creation in 2009 of the National Association of Independent Reviewing Officers. NAIRO aims to strengthen understanding of the IRO role, improve practice and influence local and national policy to ensure the voice of each child in care is properly heard. NAIRO’s story is a recipe for action.

West Berkshire has produced a series of cards setting out key ‘messages from research’ for practitioners. They deliver key research findings for particular topics but are presented in a quick and easy format. The A5 cards have been highly successful: they were well received by practitioners in West Berkshire and adopted by a number of other local authorities.

Training and learning has been increasingly emphasised at local and national levels as key to good practice, but evaluations of programmes are often superficial. Unsure of the actual impact that their training was having on course participants, staff in the Learning and Development department at Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council embarked on an in-house project to assess how colleagues incorporated the learning from training events into their everyday practice.